Bowdoin at Williams 7 PM Friday 1/18/13

Preview by Benet Pols. 

Who: Bowdoin College Polar Bears (13-1-1;8-1-1) at Williams College Ephs (8-3-2;6-1-1)
Where: Lansing Chapman Rink  Williamstown, MA
When: 7 PM Friday 1/18/13
Video/Audio: Teamline Video 


Bowdoin Stats:   4.60 G/GM scored (1st in NESCAC; 6th in Nation)
                           2.47 G/GM allowed (4th in NESCAC; 18th in Nation)







 
  Williams Stats:    2.85 G/GM scored (5th in NESCAC; 50th in Nation)
                             2.09 G/GM allowed (3rd in NESCAC;9th in Nation )





The Lowdown: Showdown
It's been two months since Williams opened the season with a 2-0 loss at Bowdoin. Play was ragged in November and much more is at stake now. Second place Williams, with two games in hand, can grab a share of the top spot if they avenge their only NESCAC loss. Both teams have played well in January even though Bowdoin, 4-1 for the month, suffered its first setback last weekend, a 6-5 OT loss to Wesleyan. The Polar Bears bounced back the next night with a solid win against Trinity.

Meanwhile Williams, at 2-1-2 for the month, faced a much tougher schedule. Its last two were against nationally ranked Babson and Plattsburgh. Tuesday's game against Babson ended in a tie, while Saturday's overtime loss to Plattsburgh had to hurt. The Ephs held 4-1 lead in the third period.

This will be Williams third game in a row against a ranked team. Bowdoin's last ranked opponent was a January 4th contest at Amherst; the Polar Bears came away with a 3-2 win.

Expect to see Steve Messina (G, Jr.) in goal for the Polar Bears while Sean Dougherty (G, So.) returns to the crease for Williams.


Keys to the game:
1. Slow dowwwwn Williams needs to stop the line of Ollie Koo (D/F, Jr.) , Harry Matheson (F, Jr.) and Colin Downey (F/D,  Jr.). The trio accounted for nine of the Polar Bear's 23 January goals. The Ephs didn't see playmaker Downey in November.

2. Don't be in the sin bin  The polar bears -particularly blue-liner Tim McGarry (D, Sr.) --need to stay out of the box. Wesleyan collected four power play goals in spoiling Bowdoin's perfect season. Williams goal scoring is more evenly distributed and less prolific; they'll be counting on another good performance from back-stop Sean Dougherty. Dougherty had the night off against Babson after stopping 37 against Plattsburgh, 16 in a tough 3rd period.

Players to watch
Bowdoin - Jon McGinnis (F, So.) The sophomore from Cocoa, Florida has a solid state line (6-8-14) but unofficially leads the Polar Bears in quality chances that don't light the lamp.

Williams  - Evan Dugdale (F, Sr.) The assistant captain has not found the net himself, but he set up five of the Ephs' 16 January goals.