BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College men's lacrosse team clinched at least a first-round home game in the NESCAC Tournament with an 8-5 win over arch-rival Colby College on Wednesday afternoon. The Polar Bears improve to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while Colby drops to 8-4 and 5-3, respectively. For now, Bowdoin has clinched at least the number two seed in the tournament and a first-round home game on Sunday afternoon in Brunswick. The Polar Bears still have an outside shot at the top seed and hosting the tournament, but need to defeat Trinity and hope that Middlebury (7-1 in NESCAC) is upset at Bates on Saturday afternoon. Colby needs a victory over Wesleyan on Saturday to assure themselves of a first-round home contest and the number three seed in the NESCAC Tournament.

Colby netminder John Shea stole the show in the early going, making several spectacular stops as the White Mules held a 2-1 edge after one quarter of play. Shea made nine saves alone in the first quarter, as many as Bowdoin goalie P.J. Prest made all day. But the Polar Bears managed to break through with three goals in the second quarter, and Prest made several key saves to tie the game at four entering intermission. Josh Allen opened the third frame with a goal before Hunter Walter fed Ted Scholhamer for a tally at 8:52, giving Bowdoin a 6-4 lead. Walter took a pass from Simon McKay to notch his second goal of the day at 6:49, giving the Polar Bears an insurmountable 7-4 lead. The defense took over from there, allowing only four Colby shots in the third period and only one goal in the entire second half - that coming with only 41 seconds remaining in the contest.

Walter ended with two goals and two assists for Bowdoin, and Allen finished with a hat trick. Chris Larson was the lone multiple point-getter for Colby with two goals on the day.

SCORING (Goals-Assists)

COLBY: Chris Larson (2-0), Eric Seidel (1-0), Barron Butler (1-0), Blake Grusch (1-0), Bill Spencer (0-1).

BOWDOIN: Hunter Walter (2-2), Josh Allen (3-0), Ted Scholhamer (2-0), Phil Stern (1-1), Simon McKay (0-1)

SAVES

COLBY: John Shea, 20

BOWDOIN: P.J. Prest, 9