MIDDLETOWN, CT. -  Scoring his second and third goals of the weekend, Owen Mahar '29 led the Wesleyan men's ice hockey team in NESCAC action on Saturday afternoon as Wesleyan fell 5-2 to No. 8 Bowdoin College on Senior Day.

Honoring the seven-man Class of 2026, the Cardinals (8-14-0 overall, 7-9-0 NESCAC) led of the game with celebrations for Daniel Lurie, Danny Judge, Jack Bosco, Ethan Davidson, Jack Marottolo, Joe Calo, and Cooper Wiley.

Quick on their feet, the Polar Bears (16-5-1 overall, 12-3-1 NESCAC) allowed just a minute to pass from the opening faceoff before putting the puck behind Cardinals goaltender Patrick McDevitt '28. Another minute and a half fell from the clock before the Cardinals found themselves in a two-goal hole. Mahar answered the call, scoring his second goal of the weekend and his first of the game to break up the Mules' lead. Rushing the zone, Mahar caught Jack DesRuisseaux's '29 pass from the wall at the blueline and fired over the left shoulder of Jacob Osborne.

Not to be outdone, the Bears scored back-to-back power play goals with the first falling at the end of the first period. Marching beyond the midway point of the second, the Bears converted on the power play a second time, taking the three-goal lead. The Bears returned a fifth goal, forcing a goaltender change for the Cardinals as Ethan Fehrenbaker '28 relieved McDevitt. With 30 seconds remaining in the period, Mahar struck with his final goal of the game, backhanding the puck behind Osborne.

Fehrenbaker and McDevitt combined for 17 saves in goal for the Cardinals. In the opposing goal, Osborne earned the win with 20 saves.

The Cardinals return action on Friday, Feb. 20, when they host Trinity at 7 p.m.