BRUNSWICK, Maine  – The Connecticut College men's hockey team picked up a crucial point in the NESCAC playoff race, but ultimately fell short to #8 Bowdoin 3-2 in overtime on Friday night from Watson Arena.

Conn started quickly, as Ryan McKenna (Garden City, N.Y.) hit the post just 35 seconds in, but a minute later, Bowdoin earned the first power play of the contest. The Polar Bears put two shots on Kellen Beauton (Colchester, Conn.) but the senior turned both aside.

With just under six minutes remaining, the Camels opened the scoring. Quinn Kennedy (Silver Spring, Md.) picked up a puck at center ice, getting below the goal line before throwing a pass to the front of the net where Matt Lewis (Pembroke, Mass.) jammed it home to put Conn in front 1-0 after one.

The teams traded chances through the early parts of the middle frame, but Bowdoin found the next goal to even the score. Hunter Fetterolf finished off a pass from Jayson Alegria to make it 1-1 at 9:38.

Just over three minutes later, the Polar Bears took their first lead off a tally from Will Rice. It looked like Conn was going to head to the third period trailing, but with 12 seconds left Will Lawrence (Bethesda, Md.) buried a rebound after Kennedy's shot was stopped to make it 2-2 heading to the third.

Both sides pushed hard in the final period of regulation, but both Beauton and Jacob Osborne stood tall, as the game headed to overtime all square at two.

Conn had the first chance in the extra session, but McKenna fanned on his shot a minute in. Midway through the five minutes, Beauton made a save on Alegria, but the rebound fell to Justin Wright who was able to poke it home to give the Polar Bears the 3-2 win.

Bowdoin outshot Conn 35-26, holding a 37-32 edge on face-offs.

Beauton was strong in net, finishing with 32 saves. Lawrence and Kennedy led the way with two points each on a goal and an assist and two goals respectively, while Lewis added a goal, and Pete Stanger (Bathurst, New Brunswick) chipped in an assist. Lewis led the way with 11 face-off wins, as Conn went 2-2 on the penalty kill and 0-1 on the power play.

Osborne got the win in goal, recording 24 saves. Alegria paced Bowdoin with two points, while five other Polar Bears added one point. Bowdoin finished 0-2 on the power play and 1-1 on the penalty kill.

Conn (9-13-1, 5-11-1 NESCAC) wraps up the regular season tomorrow afternoon as the Camels take on Colby at 3:00 p.m. in Waterville, Maine.