The Bowdoin College men’s soccer team came up just short in its bid for its third consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference title last fall, dropping to eventual conference champ Amherst 2-1 in the semifinals of the league tournament.

The Polar Bears finished the regular season strong, going 4-0-2 down the stretch, including back-to-back wins over eventual national champion Tufts in late October. Bowdoin finished 9-4-4 overall.

Last year, Bowdoin ranked third in the NESCAC with a stingy 0.82 goals against average and, prior to an injury that shortened his campaign, goaltender Stevie Van Siclen led the conference by allowing just six goals in 10 games played (0.66 GAA). He returns to backline a Bowdoin unit that also includes All- NESCAC performer Matty McColl.

Moctar Niang leads a Polar Bear attack that will feature nine players who scored goals last autumn.

The schedule sees the Polar Bears on the road for the first three games, including an early road test at 10thranked Amherst (Sept. 9).

Bowdoin opens its home campaign with a pair of league contests in consecutive days against Wesleyan (Sept. 16) and Williams (Sept. 17). Other home games include Middlebury (Sept. 23), Southern Maine (Sept. 24), Hamilton (Oct. 14) and Colby (Oct. 17).

The Polar Bears are coached by Scott Wiercinski, with Van Siclen and Sam Ward serving as the team’s captains.