MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Bowdoin men's ice hockey team picked up its first win of the season in a 2-0 NESCAC victory over host Middlebury on Sunday afternoon.

The Polar Bears improve to 1-1-0 (1-1-0 NESCAC), while keeping the Panthers winless (0-2-0, 0-2-0 NESCAC).

Game Highlights

• The Polar Bears opened the scoring at the 11:43 mark of the first period. Bowdoin cycled the puck behind the Panther net with Jack Bliss centering a pass from below the goal line to Pat Geary, who lifted the puck under the cross bar for a 1-0 lead.
• Middlebury responded with offensive pressure as Vincent Gisonti deflected a pass that Alex Zafonte stopped with his right pad, before he made a blocker save on a shot from the high slot by Kamil Tkaczuk.
• Zafonte stopped a third period blast from the point to keep Middlebury off the board with nine minutes off the clock. Zafonte denied the rebound bid as well.
• Bowdoin added an insurance goal with 7:44 left in the contest, as Thomas Dunleavy poked home a rebound from inside the crease with an assist from Ronnie Lestan for a 2-0 lead.

By the Numbers

• Stephen Klein finished with 27 saves.
• Zafonte stopped all 39 shots he faced for a shutout in his first collegiate start.
• Middlebury held a 39-29 edge in shots.
• Both teams went 0-3 on the power play.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears host the University of New England on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.