Conn College Drops Lacrosse Openers

Connecticut College lost a pair of opening lacrosse games to Bowoin College on Saturday. The following information was provided by William Tomasian, sports information director at Connecticut College:

Men's Lacrosse: Bowdoin 7, Conn College 5

Connecticut College senior net-minder Rob Moccia (Malvern, Pa.) turned aside 27 shots but the 18th ranked Bowdoin College men's lacrosse team prevailed in a 7-5 NESCAC victory on the artificial turf at Silfen Field Saturday.

Junior Patrick Lawlor (Hanover, Mass.) scored twice and put the visitors on top for good with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter of play. Griffin Cardew (Ipswich, Mass.) chipped in with a goal and two assists, while senior Brendan Hughes (Marblehead, Mass.) keyed the possession game by winning 10-of-15 faceoffs and collecting five ground balls for the Polar Bears.

Senior Chris Williamson (Winnetka, Ill.) stopped 10 shots in the opening day victory for Bowdoin.

Connecticut College junior midfielder John Lyons (Barrington, R.I.) finished with two goals and one assist. JR Hartgers (Franklin Heights, N.J.) scored twice and rookie attackman Chad Sawyer (Northfield, Ill.) recorded a goal and an assist for the Camels.

The Polar Bears erupted with a pair of goals in a 55 second span of the second period, taking a 4-1 lead when Dan Hanley (Falmouth, Maine) buried a one-timer on a feed from Cardew with 4:35 remaining in the opening half.

But the Camels ended the half with a flurry. Lyons got one back with 3:24 to go and Sawyer assisted Hartgers with a cross-crease feed for a goal with 2:08 remaining and the Bowdoin lead was 4-3 at the break.

The hosts pulled even when Lyons elevated for a shot from the top of the box with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter. But the Polar Bears scored the next two goals, ending the third quarter with an extra man score with 30 seconds left to carry a 6-4 lead into the fourth quarter.

Moccia looked like the All-NESCAC Star that blossomed two years ago, stoning Franklin Reis (Hampton Falls, N.H.) from point-blank range with one of his nine saves in the third to keep the Camels in contention.

The Camels pulled to within a goal when Sawyer scored 1:54 into the fourth quarter. But Bowdoin held possession for most of the rest of the way and Reis added an insurance marker with 8:32 remaining to close out the scoring.

Bowdoin out-shot the Camels 47-to-25 in the contest. Lawlor and Keegan Mehlhorn (North Berwick, Maine) shared corralled six ground balls apiece for the Polar Bears.

Clay Hillyer (South Windsor, Conn.) finished with four ground balls each to lead the hosts.

Women's Lacrosse: Bowdoin 11, Conn College 6

The Bowdoin College women's lacrosse team sprinted to a 3-0 lead and never trailed in an 11-6 season-opening win over Connecticut College Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field.

The Polar Bears (1-0), ranked fourth nationally, have won their last nine home games dating back to last March and will host Wheaton on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The Camels (0-1) will host Tufts on Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.

Bowdoin received a game-high four goals from Carolyn Gorajek, while Elizabeth Clegg (two goals, two assists) and Katie Herter (one goal, three assists, five draw controls) helped pace the Polar Bear offense. Katie Stewart had two goals, five caused turnovers and four ground balls while Olivia King pitched in five draw controls and a team-best five ground balls.

The Camels were led by three goals and an assist from Katelyn Driscoll. Libby Nichols and Lowell Abbott had a goal and an assist each in the loss.

Bowdoin scored the game's first three goals as Chelsea Albright, Clegg and Gorajek got the home team started. After Abbott scored the Camels' first tally with 6:48 left in the opening period, Bowdoin rolled off a decisive 6-0 surge over an 18-minute stretch spanning halftime into the second stanza. By the time Herter capped the run with 17:49 left, the Polar Bears held a 9-1 advantage.

Tara Connolly stopped seven shots in the victory for Bowdoin while Kelsey Burke made nine stops for the Camels. Bowdoin held a 33-16 edge and hit five posts in the game. The Polar Bears also held a key 13-6 advantage in draw controls.