NEW LONDON, Conn. --

In the first game of the season for Coast Guard, second half scoring woes sealed the Bears fate in a 12-8 loss to SUNY Maritime. This marks the second year in a row that Maritime defeated CGA by the slim margin of two. The Privateers, who start their campaign 1-0, will make their home opener on Saturday February 21st vs SUNY New Paltz at 1:00 PM.

Max Silver(Jupiter, FL) and Ezekiel Christian(Stonington, CT) led the scoring in the opening half with three goals each, both also with an assist. Silver and Christian opened the scoring 2-0 with back-to-back unassisted scores to start the Bear season. In that first half, Coast Guard led by as many as three and took an 8-6 lead into the midway break. 

The third quarter is when the tide changed for CGA. The Privateers scored four unanswered to open the quarter, their only four shots on goal on the third. Coast Guard in turn put five shots on goal but were unable to find the back of the net until the very last second after nearly seven minutes of scoreless play when Noah Heller(Baltimore, MD) scored to cut the Bear deficit to just one. 

The first five minutes of the fourth were strikingly similar to the final 10 of the third, physical play and strong defense left scoring opportunities at a premium and neither squad could strike. With nine minutes left on the clock, a potential turning point in the action went the Privateers way when a Ryder Bonser(Spring Branch, TX) shot rattled around front of the cage off the crossbar. The Bears were sure it had crossed over but the refs ultimately determined no goal. Carrying the momentum again, Maritime scored on their very next possession to go back up two. Ezekiel Christian answered with a goal at just under six minutes remaining, but the Bears could get nothing going on offense in the final six to fall by a 12-10 final. 

Returning for his junior season, FOGO Mason Tucker(Alpharetta, GA) was strong at the X, going 14-24. Eric Key(Clarksville, MD) led the team in assists with two and caused turnovers with three. Tied for the lead in CTs with Key was Samuel Fritz(Wallingford, PA). In goal, Brett Tobasky(Brookline, MA) played the full 60 and made eight saves.

The Bears will be home again next Saturday at 12 PM vs the Nichols College Bison. Nichols opened up today as well with a thrilling comeback 12-10 victory over Lasell.