Box Score ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The most successful season in Bowdoin men's lacrosse history came to an abrupt end on Saturday as the Polar Bears fell to defending national champion RIT, 20-14, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Polar Bears finish a phenomenal first campaign under head coach
Bill Mason with a school-record 18 wins against just three losses, a school-record 14-game winning streak, the first home NCAA regional in program history, a sweep of the NESCAC's major postseason awards and the team's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Game Highlights
- Bowdoin hung with the second-ranked Tigers (20-1) in a back-and forth opening quarter.
- A sensational individual effort by Will Byrne sparked a 3-0 run that included goals from Avery Kirby and Matt Ward that gave the Polar Bears a 3-1 lead.
- The teams traded goals throughout the quarter until a late score by RIT's Joe Camp gave the hosts a 6-5 edge after 15 minutes.
- RIT took complete command from there, rolling off a 7-1 second quarter and scoring the first five goals of the second half, holding Bowdoin to their first scoreless period of the season in the third quarter and extending their lead to 18-6.
- Bowdoin outscored RIT 8-3 in the fourth quarter to close the final margin to 20-14.
By The Numbers
- Will Byrne finished with three goals and two assists for the Polar Bears, bringing his season totals to 68 goals and 101 points, both ranking second in a single-season all-time at Bowdoin, and joining teammate Donal Mullane as the only players to score 100 points in a single year for the Polar Bears.
- Patrick Fitzgerald scored a team-high four goals to finish with 53 on the season, ranking seventh in a single-year at Bowdoin and giving the Polar Bears three 50+ goal scorers (Byrne, Mullane, and Fitzgerald) in a season for the first time in program history.
- Ethan Barnard won 17-28 faceoffs for the Polar Bears while Robert Hobbs made nine saves in the loss.
- Barnard led the team with 13 ground balls while Byrne had six and Nate Ryan added four. Chris Dehney had two caused turnovers for the Polar Bears.
- Quinn Commandant led RIT with a four-goal effort in the victory.
