Ward Hat Trick Lifts Bowdoin Past Southern Maine 6-1

            BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Sophomore forward Charlie Ward (San Francisco, Calif.) scored three goals in the second half as the Bowdoin College Polar Bears exploded for five goals to pull away from the University of Southern Maine Huskies for a 6-1 victory in non-conference men's soccer action Wednesday afternoon at Pickard Field.

            The Polar Bears extended their unbeaten streak to five matches (2-0-3) with the win, and improved to 3-1-3 overall.  The winless Huskies dropped to 0-7-2 on the season.

            Bowdoin took a 1-0 advantage in the opening minute on a goal from senior Jason Oliver (San Rafael, Calif.) off an assist from sophomore Ian Strudwick (Lake Forest, Ill.).  That turned out to be the only scoring in the opening 45 minutes as the Huskies tightened up defensively in front of sophomore goalkeeper Cameron Atherton (New Milford, Conn.).  Atherton would post six saves in the half.

            Coming out of the halftime intermission, the teams would exchange goals in the opening five minutes of the second half.  Ward's first marker, which proved to be the game winner, came 71 seconds into the half as he converted from junior Alex Chaban (Andover, Mass./Brooks School).

            Rookie Sean Brueninghaus (Superior, Wis.) pulled the Huskies back within one with his first collegiate goal, converting an assist from senior Chris Pepin (Bowdoinham, Maine/Mt. Ararat).

            Ward netted his second and third goals within a span of three minutes to blow the game open.  He converted again from Chaban in the 63rd minute, and from sophomore Brian Bae (San Diego, Calif.) in the 66th to make it 4-1.

            Sophomore Matt Uek (Westwood, Mass./Roxbury Latin) scored into the upper right corner from 20 yards out in the 81st minute, and Strudwick posted an unassisted marker in the 85th for the final tally.

            Atherton finished the game with 13 saves as Bowdoin outshot USM 26-6.  Bowdoin rookie goalie Michael Webber (Natick, Mass.) earned his first win of the season playing the opening 80 minutes and making two saves.  Senior Sam McDowell (Glenside, Pa.) came on to play the final 10 minutes and did not have to make a save.

            Southern Maine is back in action on Saturday (noon) hosting Castleton University for a Little East Conference game.  Bowdoin travels to Hartford, Conn., to play Trinity College in a NESCAC match on Saturday (noon).

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