BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Amherst men's ice hockey team exploded for six goals in the third period to come from behind and end Bowdoin's season in a 8-5 NESCAC Quarterfinal victory on Saturday at Watson Arena.

The Polar Bears' season ends at 13-8-4 after stringing together a ten game undefeated streak that earned the team a three seed in the NESCAC playoffs. Defending NESCAC Champion Amherst (10-11-4) advances to the semifinals next weekend at a site to-be-determined.

The loss ends the storied career of Terry Meagher at Bowdoin, as the 33-year head coach ends his tenure with a record of 542-253-58, winning 67% of his games, two NESCAC titles and two ECAC Championships. 

Game Highlights

• Bowdoin scored 10:57 into the opening frame to go ahead 1-0. Matt Sullivan carried the puck down the right boards and crossed a pass to Cody Todesco on the far faceoff circle. Todesco centered the puck with a hard feed that Camil Blanchet deflected past Dave Cunningham.
• The Polar Bears took advantage of a 5x3 power play to double their lead with 48 seconds remaining in the period. Daniel McMullan set up on the left point and fed Sullivan on the opposite side. Sullivan fired a slap shot on net with Matthew Lison tipping the puck as it flew past to go up 2-0.
• After killing an Amherst power play, Bowdoin went ahead 3-0 6:21 into the second.  Brendan Conroy crossed the puck to Austin Ricci on the left dot. Ricci wristed a shot top shelf on the far side to extend Bowdoin's lead.
• Chris Roll won a faceoff in the Polar Bear zone and kicked the puck back to Brendan Burke to set up Amherst's first goal of the game. Burke fired a shot through traffic past Cronin to put the Purple and White on the board 8:34 into the period.
• Amherst continued to chip away at Bowdoin's lead with its second of the game at 12:35.  Conor Brown took an off speed shot from the left that rolled over Cronin's shoulder.  
• Bowdoin responded with a goal two minutes later off the stick of Todesco. Sullivan shot through traffic, followed by a cleanup attempt by Jay Kourkoulis that resulted in a loose puck on the left post.  Todesco poked home the Polar Bears' fourth with 5:09 remaining in the period.
• Amherst scored a power play goal 1:41 into the final frame. Patrick Arena shot from the right side and slid the puck through the five-hole to pull Amherst within one at 4-3.
• Bowdoin responded off the ensuing faceoff as Sebastian Foster found Ricci on the right boards who skated into the Amherst zone and shot far post to go up 5-3.
• Austin Ho scored less than a minute later with a shot from the blue line that snaked through a screen.
• Roll tied the game at 4:53 after skating down the slot and writing a shot top right shelf.
• Amherst took its first lead of the game off another Ho goal at 7:13 off a Burke feed on the right side.
• David White tallied Amherst's fourth straight goal with a successful one-on-one opportunity. White collected a loose puck in neutral ice and broke away uncontested in the Bowdoin zone. The sophomore drew the goalie left and then pulled right to bury Amherst's seventh of the game at 15:31.
• Will Vosejpka put away an empty netter with 36 seconds remaining.

By the Numbers

• Bowdoin went 1-for-2 on the power play.
• Amherst went 1-for-3 on the power play.
• Cronin ended the day with 31 saves.
• Cunningham made 27 stops in net for Amherst.

Up Next

• Amherst advances to the NESCAC Semifinals to be played at a site to be determined.