BRUNSWICK — The road ends at some point.

For third year in a row, the Bowdoin men’s lacrosse team’s season ended in the NCAA Division III semifinals. This time, the Polar Bears fell 16-12 to RIT on Saturday night at Whittier Field.

“We definitely didn’t play our best game,” junior attack Casey Ryan said. “Not even close. I wouldn’t say the moment was too big, but it just felt like we weren’t centered. We always talk about being where your feet are. I don’t know if we were … and I think it’s just more fuel to the fire.”

The second-ranked Polar Bears finished with a 19-2 record, breaking the program record for wins in a season. Tenth-ranked RIT (19-4), which also beat Bowdoin in the 2024 semifinals, will face either Tufts or Wesleyan in national championship game on March 24.

“One of those times you can’t get up and beat the opponent, but just so grateful for the ride, and I’ll remember this forever,” Bowdoin senior midfielder Sam Raye-Steiner said.

Raye-Steiner led the Polar Bears with five goals, scoring most of them by dancing around the crease. Ryan finished with four goals and two assists after being a major focus of RIT’s defense.

Hudson Greene had one goal and two assists, and Chris Berry contributed a goal and an assist. Cormac Walsh also had an assist.

Both teams played in up-tempo, high-scoring quarterfinals on Friday, but the opening quarter Saturday was a change of pace. RIT’s Ryan Langille (two goals) scored first, then Bowdoin briefly controlled the flow of the game with successful offensive sets running through the X.

Bowdoin was ahead 2-1, its only lead of the game, before RIT rang up three straight scores, by Ryan Sanders (five goals) and David Charney (four goals, assist). The Tigers went on two more three-goal runs in the second quarter, extending their lead to 10-4, as their quick attackmen dove for extra possessions and skilled longpoles clogged Bowdoin passing lanes with a zone defense.

“At first we were staying on our game plan, and things were working out, even though we were down, and later I think we kind of just got ahead of ourselves,” Raye-Steiner said.

Bowdoin turned the ball over 17 times, and RIT forced 10 of those turnovers. The Tigers were also able to draw seven penalties — although two were in the final seconds — and score on four man-up opportunities.

“I just think we were sloppy, and I think it’s uncharacteristic,” Ryan said. “Can’t win big games if you’re turning the ball over, failing clears.”

RIT extended its lead to 15-6 with 42 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We played way too much defense today,” Bowdoin coach Bill Mason said. “They can throw it and pass into tight windows. They have efficient Canadian scorers, and if you’re going to play that much defense, it’s just asking to have a tough game.”

Even though his team’s zone was holding up, RIT coach Jack Coon said he was stressed out by Bowdoin’s versatile offense. The Polar Bears ended the game on a 6-1 run, but RIT was able to use the majority of the shot clock for each of its remaining possessions.

“We felt like we always have a chance, we’re always in the game,” Mason said. “You know, it’s just a little too late for us, we left a little too much out there. This team, this program, we’re gonna fight to the last second.

“Now turn around, we’re gonna have guys in the weight room, we’re gonna have guys on the wall, I know we’ll have guys going and playing lacrosse tomorrow, because that’s just the type of people we have. They really love it, and they work hard at it.”