TRINITY FORWARD Jeffrey Menard (5) tumbles to the ice with Bowdoin College’s Timothy McGarry (28) and Graham Sisson (10) close by during a NESCAC quarterfinal men’s hockey game at Sidney J. Watson Arena on Saturday. Sisson’s gamewinning powey-play goal was the difference in a 2-1 Polar Bear victory. In the bottom photo, Bowdoin’s Danny Palumbo, right, is checked by Trinity’s Sebastian Kimmel (9).
But, one thing Meagher says never changes is the difference between regular-season hockey and playoff hockey, where the ice seems smaller, the hitting is often ferocious, players dive to block shots, and records are thrown out the window.
Seventh-seeded Trinity gave No. 2 Bowdoin everything it had on Saturday at a packed Sidney J. Watson Arena, with stellar goaltending from netminder Ben Coulthar (36 saves) to tough, bone-crunching hits all over the ice. But, the Polar Bears hung tough and delivered solid penalty killing in a 2-1 quarterfinal victory.
Bowdoin improved to 16-5-3, 11-1-2 in its last 14 games, while the Bantams ended their campaign 9-13-2. The Polar Bears face third-seeded Middlebury ( a 2- 1 winner over No. 6 Wesleyan) in the NESCAC semifinals at Amherst this upcoming weekend. Top-seeded Amherst, a 6-0 victor over Hamilton, will take on No. 5 Williams, which defeated host and fourth-seeded Tufts 4-3 in overtime on Saturday.
“There is regular golf and tournament golf, and there is regular hockey and tournament hockey, where you have to shorten the ice and not take as many chances,” said Meagher. “ I thought we played a very quiet final 10 minutes and that is the game. This team pays attention to details and played a flawless 10 minutes at the end of that game.
“To get to the final four is pretty special.”
Bowdoin received a goal each from Rob MacGregor and Graham Sisson, coming back from an early 1-0 deficit.
Tough start
Things started poorly for Bowdoin and Messina as Trinity’s Joe Tierney blew a slap shot past the netminder and off the post and into the cage for a 1-0 Bantams lead just 1:54 into the game.
Trinity held an early 6-2 shot advantage, but the Polar Bears found their stride in taking six of the next eight shots and tying the game.
MacGregor camped out at the top of Coulthar’s goal crease. Robert Toczylowski sent a wrister toward the cage, with MacGregor deflecting the puck past the screened netminder to tie the contest. Coulthar argued MacGregor was inside the crease, slamming his stick to the ice in disgust.
Consecutive penalties on Bowdoin’s Ollie Koo forced the Polar Bears into penaltykilling mode. Bowdoin excelled, keeping Trinity from getting off a shot in those two opportunities.
Bowdoin received its first power play early in the second period and took advantage as the senior Sisson managed to slip the puck over a prone Coulthar for a 2-1 Polar Bear lead.
“It was a nice rebound, and I got it and lifted it up over the goalie’s glove and it went in,” said Sisson of his gamewinning goal, which was assisted by John McGinnis and Ryan Collier at 3:25 of the second period.
Bowdoin had several chances to extend its lead, taking 17 shots in the middle frame. Coulthar made big stops on Jordan Lalor, Daniel Weiniger and Colin Downey in succession to keep his team down by just one goal.
The Polar Bears were whistled for three penalties in the second frame, including two 1:20 apart to give Trinity a 5- on-3 advantage for 40 seconds. Messina made three saves, including a lunging leg stop of a great chance by Jackson Brewer and a glove save on a wrister from Adamo Miceli.
“Steve, outside of the first goal, came up with some big saves, and the penalty killing was good tonight, especially the 5-on-3,” said Meagher, whose squad killed off all six Trinity power plays.
Trinity outshot Bowdoin 10-9 in the third period, with Messina’s best stop coming with 2:01 left when he stoned Tierney with his blocker. The Bantams pulled Coulthar for an extra skater with 1: 06 remaining, but the Polar Bear defense allowed little to preserve the 2-1 victory.
“Playoff games are not easy, with one and outs,” said Meagher, who praised Trinity. “ They’re a good team with some good players, and that team from where we played them early in the season, to now, has improved. It’s a credit to their coach (Matt Greason) and those young men.”
Bowdoin finished one of three on the power play and held a 38-32 shot advantage.
No. 2 Bowdoin 2, No. 7 Trinity 1
NESCAC quarterfinal
At Sidney J. Watson Arena
Trinity — 1 0 0 — 1
Bowdoin — 1 1 0 —2
First period — 1. (T) Joe Tierney (Paul Burns), 1:54; 2. (B) Rob MacGregor (Robert Toczylowski, Aaron O’Callahan).
Penalties — (B) Ollie Koo (high sticking), 16:35; (B) Ollie Koo (hooking),
19:55.
Second period — 3. (B) Graham Sisson (John McGinnis, Ryan Collier), pp, 3:25.’
Penalties — (T) Ben Coulthard (interference), 1:50; (B) Aaron O’Callahan (slashing), 7:56; (B) Rob MacGregor (slashing), 11:19; (B) Colin Downey (roughing), 12:40.
Third period — No scoring.
Penalties — (T) Adamo Miceli (holding), 1:18; (T) Paul Burns (roughing), 7:08; (B) Ryan Collier (boarding), 12:00.
Shots on goal — Trinity 9-13-10 — 32; Bowdoin 12-17-9 — 38.
Saves — (T) Ben Coulthard 36; (B) Steve Messina 31.
Power play — Trinity 0-6; Bowdoin 1-3.
Records — Bowdoin 16-5-3, Trinity 9-13-2.
Next for the Polar Bears — Against No. 3 Middlebury in the NESCAC semifinals this upcoming weekend at Amherst, Mass.
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