Bowdoin junior defenseman Brian Shuman notched the second hat trick of his career to help the Polar Bears defeat Trinity on Saturday afternoon, 6-2.
With two games remaining in the conference schedule, Bowdoin (11-8-1, 9-6-0) stands three points out of the final home playoff slot, which is currently occupied by Trinity (13-6-2, 10-4-1).
Bowdoin took a 2-0 lead that it would never lose in the first five minutes of the game. Chris Pelletier scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season to start the game and Shuman followed with his first of the evening. Denis Petrov pulled the Bantams within one midway through the first, and the 2-1 Bowdoin lead would stand until the intermission.
In the second, the Polar Bears blew open the game with consecutive power-play goals. Shuman converted a feed from Michael Stevens before Sean Starke followed for the 4-1 lead. Shuman completed his hat trick before the end of the second period for a commanding 5-1 lead.
Colin Robinson made 27 saves to pick up the victory for Bowdoin, while Geoffrey Faulkner had 23 stops in the losing effort.