Bowdoin and Colby play a game for the ages

Published on: 28th February, 2010 by Chris Roy

Brunswick, ME – The latest edition of the Bowdoin/Colby rivalry will certainly go down in the record books as one of the most intense matchups of all time.

Jordan Lalor scored with less than five minutes remaining in OT to give Bowdoin College a 2-1 victory over Colby College in the NESCAC Quarterfinals before a capacity crowd at Sid Watson Arena on Saturday night.

“This team has earned everything that they’ve received,” said Bowdoin head coach Terry Meagher. “This hasn’t been easy, they’ve worked hard, and they’ve earned it.”

Bowdoin will now host the NESCAC Tournament next week as a result of being the top remaining team.

It remained scoreless for nearly 50 minutes before the first goal of the game was scored as both goaltenders were stellar in net.

“We came in as the number one seed, but Colby wasn’t a number eight seed,” said Jordan Lalor. “There was a lot of adrenaline going on that cancels that out.”

When the first goal was scored, it would be Colby’s Wil Hartigan, who found the back of the net when he blasted a slap shot off the faceoff, beating Chris Rossi at 8:56 of the third period.

Colby knew they needed to sustain the lead for a few minutes due to Bowdoin’s quick strike capabilities, which was the case as Kyle Shearer-Hardy scored only 31 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1.

“Hardy is as special player as I’ve ever coached here,” said Meagher. “He just seems to come up with the big plays at big times.”

“I knew if we could get two, three, four or five minutes with a 1-0 score then we could settle into a rhythm, but we couldn’t get the puck out and it’s just a matter of time and it’s in the back of the net,” said Tortorella.

The game remained tied for the remainder of the third period, which the longer the game went the more it favored the visitors.

“The game was about chances and generating chances,” said Jim Tortorella.

With 4:26 remaining in the first overtime, the faceoff was won back to the right point and Jordan Lalor, who ripped a bullet by Colby netminder Cody McKinney, send Bowdoin’s bench erupting in joy.

“You try to win it in the first five to seven minutes,” Meagher said.

“Coach’s voice in the back of my head saying put it on net so I just threw it in there,” said Lalor.

Both goaltenders played the game of their lives, as McKinney made 47 saves in the loss, and Chris Rossi stopped 25 of 27 shots for the win.

NOTES: The game was delay by 20 minutes after a power outage cut power to the local area.

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