BRUNSWICK, Maine — The Middlebury College men’s lacrosse team dropped a pair of recent road games and stand at 3-4, 1-3 in NESCAC play heading into a 2 p.m. home game on Saturday vs. league rival Amherst. Amherst is ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division III.
On this past Saturday host. Bowdoin pulled away from Middlebury after the first quarter to win, 17-8. The game was tied at 5-5 early in the second period before the Polar Bears (4-2, 2-2 NESCAC and winners of four straight) scored the final four goals of the first half and then opened the third quarter with a 6-1 run to take a 15-6 lead.
A.J. Kucinski led the Panthers with four goals and an assist, while Henry Riehl and Michael McCormack each had a goal and an assist. Charles Midgley made two saves for the Panthers while allowing 15 goals in 41:37 of action. Tyler Bass played the final 18:23, allowing two scores and making three saves.
Brett Kuila led Bowdoin with four goals. John Young made 13 saves in the Polar Bear net, and Jack O’Connor made one stop over the final 2:27. Sam Carlin won 19 of 25 faceoffs for the Polar Bears.
On Tuesday host No. 8 Denison scored eight straight goals in a 12-7 victory over the Panthers. Middlebury took a 4-3 lead early in the second quarter on two goals from Riehl and one apiece McCormick and Jack Gould, but Denison went on its run to take a 9-4 lead.
Goals by Riehl, Parker Lawlor and Chase Goree pulled the Panthers to within 10-7 with 10:04 remaining in the game, but Denison closed out the scoring with two late goals.
Midgley made eight saves for Middlebury, Jake Madnick won 10 of 18 faceoffs and picked up six ground balls, and Laurence Jackson forced three turnovers and picked up five ground balls.
Brooks Davy scored four goals, and goalie Stephen Paras made four saves for Denison (7-2).