BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College men's lacrosse team pulled away late for a 17-14 win over Stevens Institute of Technology in the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Whittier Field.
The Polar Bears (18-1) advance to the quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five years, ending the season of Stevens (18-3). Bowdoin will face Hope next Friday in the quarterfinal round with sites to be announced on Sunday evening.
Game Highlights
- The Polar Bears never trailed but couldn't put away the pesky Ducks, who rallied each time Bowdoin appeared to pull away.
- Bowdoin grabbed a 4-1 lead thanks to a Casey Ryan goal in the final seconds of the opening quarter, and the Polar Bears pushed the lead to 7-3 midway through the second frame.
- Stevens replied with a four-goal run to tie the contest with 3:10 remaining in the second period, but Ryan again stepped up to score with 27 seconds left before halftime, giving Bowdoin an 8-7 edge at the break.
- The third quarter was more of the same as a 4-1 Bowdoin run made it 12-8, but Stevens answered with four consecutive goals to knot it at 12 apiece heading into the finale frame.
- Goals by Chris Berry and Hudson Greene gave the Polar Bears a 14-12 cushion with 11:17 to go, but Stevens replied with scores from Adam DeChristofaro and Joe Leone that tied the game for the fourth – and final – time with 8:11 remaining.
- After a great save by goaltender Alec Delgado on Stevens' next possession, Bowdoin worked the ball to Sam Raye-Steiner, who found the back of the net with 6:40 to go, giving Bowdoin a 15-14 edge.
- A man-up goal two minutes later by Raye-Steiner pushed the lead to two and, ten seconds later after a faceoff win, Alex Choi found Casey Ryan for Bowdoin's third straight goal, extending the lead to 17-14 with 4:35 to go.
- The Polar Bear defense held the Ducks scoreless over the final 8:11 to seal the victory.
By The Numbers
- Casey Ryan had nine points on the day, scoring four goals and five assists, giving him 116 points on the year – breaking the school's single season mark set by Will Byrne in 2024.
- Sam Raye-Steiner had four goals and an assist, including two of Bowdoin's three goals in the final stretch that put the game away.
- Hudson Greene (three goals, one assist) and Chris Berry (two goals, two assists) both had four-point days for the Polar Bears.
- Alex Byrne had two caused turnovers and five ground balls defensively for the Polar Bears while Alec Delgado made 15 saves.
- Stevens out-shot Bowdoin 53-40, but Bowdoin owned a 30-29 advantage in shots on goal. The Ducks owned a 17-16 edge in faceoffs but went 1-7 with the extra man while Bowdoin went 4-5.
- The teams combined for 12 penalties on the day, the most in a Bowdoin game this season.
Up Next
- Bowdoin and Hope will play for the first time in men's lacrosse next Friday in the national quarterfinals. Site selections will be announced following the conclusion of Sunday's third round games.
