Rutland, VT – The 14th ranked Bowdoin Polar Bears survived a furious comeback by Castleton to win 5-3 in an ECAC East/NESCAC match-up. Bowdoin remains undefeated on the season, improving to 5-0-1 (3-0-1 NESCAC) while the Spartans fall to 1-4 (0-3 ECAC East).
Bowdoin put three goals on the board in the first period to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Owen Smith got the Polar Bears on the board 12:35 into the game, taking advantage of the power play. Smith put home a cross-ice pass from Erik Olson to the far post for his first of the season.
Ryan Blossom scored his first of two goals three minutes later on a 2-on-1 short handed breakaway for the 2-0 lead. Matt Smith rounded out the scoring in the first period on a slap shot that veered off of Castleton goalie Jeff Swanson's glove side shoulder at the 16:08 mark.
Castleton came out of the locker room, scoring three unanswered goals of their own to tie the game 10:22 into the second period.
Eric Curtis scored his first goal of the season, knocking home a rebound on a breakaway. Dan Mauriello tried to score on Bowdoin goalie Richard Nerland five-hole, but Nerland got enough of the puck to stop the puck in the crease, allowing Curtis to finish on the rebound.
Nick Westcott made the score 3-2 with over 11 minutes to play when he fired a slap shot to the high glove side of Nerland on a breakaway.
The Spartans tied the game with 9:38 left in the period when Marlin Froese scored from in front of the net on the power play. Froese received a pass from Steve Culbertson in the left corner then turned and fired to the near side, making the score 3-3.
The Polar Bears shut down the Spartan comeback 34 seconds later when Graham Sisson put a slap shot above the blocker of Castleton net minder Jay Seals for the game winner.
Blossom added an empty net goal with 27 seconds remaining in regulation.
Nerland made 24 stops en route to the victory for Bowdoin. Swanson made seven saves in the first before being replaced by Seals, who made 12 saves in the losing effort.
Castleton returns to action tomorrow when the Spartans host Colby College in an ECAC East/NESCAC match up at 4:00 pm. Bowdoin brings their undefeated record into tomorrow's game at Skidmore for a 4:00 pm start.
