MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Down four goals in the first period, the Wesleyan men's hockey team attempted their own four-goal comeback but fell just shy of a lead as they were defeated at home by Bowdoin College, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon from Spurrier-Snyder Arena.

It was an action-packed opening period on Saturday afternoon as the NESCAC matchup saw six total goals scored in the first 20 minutes of play. Despite a near even shot count through the period, the Polar Bears (6-9-0 overall, 4-5-0 NESCAC) dominated with four goals on nine shots on goal. Isaac Abbott, Jack Sullivan, Will Rice, and Michael Dinges were responsible for the pile on by the Polar Bears.

With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Hayden Hanes '27 broke open the scoring to give the Cardinals (2-9-3 overall, 1-6-1 NESCAC) a chance to climb their way out of a four-goal deficit and put a goal behind Jake Fillion. Pressing the Bears down into the corner, Connor Sutherland '27 connected with Owen Sweet '25 as Hanes was making his way in from the blue line. Hanes' one-timer sunk over Fillion's blocker.

As the clock wound into the first intermission, the Cardinals cut the Bears' lead again as Andrew Haxton '28 scored his third of the season. Ethan Davidson '26 passed the puck up the boards to Patrick Morrissey '25 at the line before Morrissey's shot centered through a throng of Bears found Haxton at the left post.

Looking to capitalize off their late goals, the Cardinals rallied back in the second period and held the Bears to just four shots on Patrick McDevitt '28. Both teams would be held without a goal until the final minutes of the period, again, as Davidson struck his own goal. The Cardinals' points leader (17) added to his collection with a top-shelf goal after gaining the puck in the neutral zone from Danny Judge '26.

With the third period underway and within a goal of tying the game, the Cardinals fired 13 shots on Fillion but were unable to put away another opportunity. In an attempt to force the game to overtime, the Cardinals pulled McDevitt for the extra attacker, but the Bears saw an open lane and took a two-goal lead on an empty-net goal to claim victory.

Hanes, the Cardinals' scoring leader with seven goals, and Davidson lead all Cardinals with five shots on goal. Hanes won a career-high 17 faceoff draws.

Ethan Fehrenbaker '28 and McDevitt combined for 12 saves in goal for the Cardinals. Fillion finished the game with 29 saves and earned the NESCAC win.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, Jan. 24, when they travel to Tufts for a 7 p.m. NESCAC puck drop.