BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College men's lacrosse team advanced to the NESCAC semifinals for the first time since 2016 with an 13-11 win over Hamilton in the conference quarterfinals Saturday at Whittier Field. With a win in the first-ever postseason game in Whittier Field history, the Polar Bears (15-1) also tied the program record for single-season wins, matching the 1989 and '90 teams for victories in a year. Hamilton ends its year with a record of 7-7.
 
Game Highlights

• Coming off their first loss of the season at Tufts on Wednesday, Bowdoin jumped ahead early, as three early goals by Will Byrne spotted the Polar Bears a 5-1 lead after the first ten minutes of play.
• Hamilton's defense clamped down and the Continentals were able to chip away at the Bowdoin led, scoring twice before the end of the first quarter and getting a late goal in the second quarter to close the gap to 7-5 at halftime.
• Hamilton's Britt Defeo trimmed the Bowdoin lead to a single goal, 7-6, 1:31 into the second half, but Bowdoin bounced back with scores from Jason Lach and Zach Chandler in a span of 1:59 later in the frame to push the lead back to three goals.
• The Continentals cut the lead to two goals on two occasions in the third quarter but could get no closer. Patrick Fitzgerald closed the third period with a goal to make it 11-8, and Lach and Fitzgerald scored twice more to open the fourth quarter to push Bowdoin's advantage to 13-8 with 6:57 remaining.
• Hamilton used a late three-goal flurry to close the final margin to 13-11.

By The Numbers

• Robert Hobbs was outstanding in goal for Bowdoin, stemming the Hamilton momentum on numerous occasions and finishing the game with 16 saves.
• Donal Mullane had a goal and seven assists for Bowdoin to key the offense. Will Byrne finished with a game-high four goals for te Polar Bears.
• Patrick Fitzgerald had three goals and two assists while Jason Lach ended with a hat trick as well.
• Defensively, Pat White had two caused turnovers while Peter Kenerson had a caused turnover and three ground balls.
• Christian Byrne and Torben Wunderle both had two-goal, two-assist efforts for Hamilton, and Seamus Fagan finished with 14 saves in net for the Continentals.

Up Next

• Bowdoin advances to the NESCAC semifinals next weekend with opponent and location to be determined following the completion of NESCAC quarterfinal play on Saturday.