BRUNSWICK, Maine – Bowdoin College's Casey Ryan posted nine points on six goals and three assists in the Polar Bears' 17-11 win against the Hamilton College Continentals in a 2026 NESCAC Men's Lacrosse Championship semifinal at Bowdoin's Whittier Field on Saturday afternoon, May 2.
Season Update
- Nationally ranked No. 18 Hamilton (9-7 overall) was the sixth seed for the championship. The Continentals, who edged Wesleyan University 10-9 in the quarterfinals on April 25, are 15th in the NCAA Power Index rankings.
- The top-ranked Polar Bears (16-0) are the No. 1 seed for the championship. Bowdoin is hosting the final weekend of the NESCAC championship for the first time.
How It Happened
- The Polar Bears scored 15 seconds in and led 2-0 less than three minutes into the first quarter.
- Carson Kraus '28 put Hamilton on the scoreboard with 4:15 left in the first. Kraus got a running start from the top of the offensive zone, jumped and shot from about 10 yards out.
- Bowdoin restored its two-goal lead 41 seconds later and the Polar Bears took their 3-1 advantage into the second quarter. Bowdoin scored twice less than 90 seconds into the quarter and went up 5-1.
- Thomas Healy '26 notched the Continentals' second goal 2:05 into the second. Healy started on the right side goal line-extended, cut to the middle and scored from about 40 feet away.
- About 90 seconds later it seemed like Hamilton was getting the ball back on a save by Jack Williams '28, but one of the Continentals was flagged for a two-minute unreleaseable cross-checking penalty. The Polar Bears responded by scoring two man-up goals in a span of 27 seconds for a 7-2 lead with 10:18 remaining.
- Hamilton didn't get closer than four goals the rest of the way. Kraus pulled the Continentals within 8-3 with 5:41 to go in the second when he entered the offensive zone from the left wing and scored on a long-distance shot.
- Two goals in the last 1:34 of the half drew Hamilton within 9-5. Frank Coyle '26 had his shot blocked but he picked up the ground ball, drove towards the left post and scored from the edge of the crease.
- In the closing seconds Kraus received a pass from Coyle, dodged a defender, cut to the middle and scored on a shot from 15 yards away with 8.5 seconds left.
- Bowdoin led 14-8 after three quarters and enjoyed a nine-goal cushion on three goals scored in just 20 seconds early in the fourth.
Notes
- Kraus tied his career high with seven goals. It was the third time he accomplished the feat in the last six games. Kraus is sixth in the NESCAC with 44 goals and 10th with 55 points.
- Healy chipped in two goals and an assist. He has 125 goals and 174 points in his career.
- Coyle ended up with a goal and two helpers. The goal was also his 100th career point with the Continentals.
- Finn Vaccaro '29 contributed a goal and two assists. Vaccaro leads the team with 18 assists.
- Kieran Hughes '28 scooped up three ground balls and caused a turnover. Hughes has 10 ground balls in the last three games.
- Williams made 15 saves, including seven in the first quarter. He's third in the conference with 12.44 stops per game.
- Sam Raye-Steiner registered four goals and two assists for the Polar Bears. Alex Byrne led the defense with five ground balls and three caused turnovers. Alec Delgado turned away nine shots.
- Bowdoin won 23-of-32 faceoffs and picked up 36 ground balls to Hamilton's 20. The Polar Bears had a 14-6 shot advantage in the first quarter.
Up Next
The Continentals will watch the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship selection show on NCAA.com on Sunday, May 3 at 9 p.m.
