MEDFORD, Mass. – The Bowdoin men's soccer team advanced to the Elite Eight after tying Connecticut College 0-0 and advancing with a 3-2 penalty kick win on Saturday afternoon.
The Polar Bears return to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 2022 with a 12-3-4 record. The Camels season ends with a 12-3-6 mark.
Game Highlights
- Bowdoin earned a corner kick in the 30th minute and put a pair of shots on net, but TJ Krongard stopped both low bids.
- Opening the second half, the Camels countered Bowdoin with a strong run down the right side. The long cross to a wide open back post rolled harmlessly out as no Connecticut player was there to receive.
- A minute later, Mateo Pacelli broke through and streaked between a pair of defenders before putting a right-footer on net.
- In the final 15 minutes, Tyler Huck narrowly missed wide left as the two teams went to overtime tied 0-0.
- The teams traded blows in overtime, but the game went to penalty kicks tied 0-0.
- Both teams converted on their first attempts with Tyler Huck blasting the left side of the net.
- Alex Ainsworth went airborne to make a diving save to put the pressure on Connecticut College, who also came up with a save to answer.
- Ainsworth saved the next Connecticut opportunity and Liam Myers converted to make it 2-1.
- Despite the Camels scoring to make it 2-2, Keito Ishibashi booted a top left shelf goal and Ainsworth came up with another save to hand Bowdoin the shootout win.
By the Numbers
- The teams were evenly matched with five shots apiece on net.
- Bowdoin held a slight 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
- Ainsworth made five stops, not counting his three penalty kick saves.
- Krongard made five saves in 110 minutes. Connor Smith came in for the shootout and stopped a pair of shots.
Up Next
- Bowdoin plays host Tufts at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday for the right to play in the national semifinals.
