NCAA Quarterfinal Preview: Bowdoin vs. Oswego

The Oswego State Lakers will host the Bowdoin Polar Bears in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Division III Hockey quarterfinal round on Saturday, March 12 at 7pm in the Campus Center Ice Arena.  Bowdoin advanced in the tournament after defeated Neumann, 2-1 Wednesday night.  Oswego enters the game after being idol for two weeks and receiving an at large bid into the NCAAs.

Last year, Oswego defeated Bowdoin, 9-2, the NCAA quarterfinal game to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four in Lake Placid.  The winner of tonight’s game will once again cash their ticket to the Frozen Four and face the winner of the Adrian/Elmira game in Minneapolis, MN.

The game can be seen online via the Oswego Athletics page. Here’s a brief look at the match between Bowdoin and Oswego, courtesy of uscho.com.

Bowdoin Polar Bears
Tournament Qualification: NESCAC Automatic Qualifier
NCAA Tournament Profile: fourth NCAA tournament appearance, last appearance — 2010 (quarterfinal round loss to Oswego, 9–2)
Best NCAA Finish: quarterfinalists — 2000, 2010
Road to NCAA Championship: win, 5–2, vs. Williams, (NESCAC championship game), win, 3–1, vs. Colby, (NESCAC semifinals), win 4–3 (OT), vs. Amherst, (NESCAC quarterfinals)


Team Stats
Overall Record: 18–7–1, 11–7–1 NESCAC (Fifth)
SOG: 34.8 per game
Opponents’ SOG: 30.7 per game
Power Play: 32.2 percent
Penalty Kill: 87.1 percent
Offense: 4.07 goals per game
Defense: 3.13 goals per game


Scoring Leaders
Daniel Weiniger, (So.) — 20 goals, 22 assists, 42 points
Kyle shearer-Hardy (Sr.) — 9 goals, 27 assists, 36 points
Jeff Fanning (Sr.) — 20 goals, 7 assists, 27 points
Colin Downey (Fr.) — 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points


Goaltender
Steve Messina (Fr.) — 2.95 goals against average, .893 save percentage

Oswego State Lakers
League: SUNYAC
Record: 22–4–0
NCAA History: 12th appearance, one national championship (2007)

Conference Playoffs: Semifinals — lost to Fredonia, 2–1 (OT)

Team Stats 

Scoring Offense: 4.02 g/gm
Scoring Defense: 1.85 g/gm
Scoring Margin: +59 (2.27 g/gm)
Power Play: 25.7 percent
Penalty Kill: 85.9 percent
Penalties: 14.2 pim/gm


Team Leaders
Goals: Ian Boots (14)
Assists: Ian Boots (23)
Points: Ian Boots (37)
Power-play Goals: Justin Fox (8)
Short-handed Goals: Owen Kelly (2)
GAA: Paul Beckwith (1.78)
Save Pct.: Paul Beckwith (.935)