The Bowdoin College men’s ice hockey team saw their five-game unbeaten streak come to an end in a 5-2 loss to 12th-ranked Middlebury on Saturday afternoon. The Polar Bears fall to 11-5-1 (8-4-1) while the Panthers improve to 9-3-4 (6-2-4).

Middlebury took a 1-0 lead 6:12 into the game, as Tom Clayton converted a breakaway for his first goal of the season. Bowdoin answered 1:42 later, when Leland Fidler scored with a shot to the top corner on the glove side. Middlebury regained the lead at 10:24, when Charlie Strauss finished off a flurry after a shot from Nick Resor had been saved.

The Panthers added to the lead in the second period with a pair of goals. Charlie Townsend scored at 7:01, converting a nice crossing pass from Clayton. Strauss netted his second of the game at 15:11, redirecting a shot from Clayton.

Bowdoin made it a two-goal game 4:49 into the third period, as Fidler netted his second of the game and fourth of the year, scoring shorthanded on a breakaway. Martin Drolet sealed the game for the Panthers with an empty-netter with 1:18 left in the game. Clayton, who entered the game with one point in 13 games, ended the contest with a goal and two assists.

John Yanchek made 22 saves in goal to pick up the win, while Richard Nerland made 28 stops for the Polar Bears.

(courtesy of Bowdoin College)