Edition IV - September 30th, 2003.
Sports Covered:
WOMEN'S SOCCER ON A ROLL
The Middlebury College women's soccer team has won five straight games after dropping its season-opener. Last week, the Panthers won at Keene State before coming home to top Colby and Bowdoin.
At Keene, the nationally-ranked Owls saw Middlebury break a 2-2 tie with a late goal to pick up the 3-2 win. Junior Mayo Fujii (Londonderry,
Vt.) opened the scoring at the 35:03 mark, with Keene tying the game late in the first half. Junior Brittany Cronin (Aurora, Colo.) gave Middlebury a 2-1 lead in the second half, with the Owls tying the game with 3:38 left to play. The Panthers kept up the pressure as Cronin scored her second of the game just 41 seconds later to give Middlebury the 3-2 win. Junior Els Van Woert (Shelburne, Vt.) made five saves in goal.
Colby took a 2-0 lead over Middlebury less than 20 minutes into the contest. Cronin answered for the Panthers with two goals in less than three minutes to knot the game at two heading into the halftime break. Fujii took a cross from first-year player Caity Abshere (Madison, Wis.) at 55:45 and buried it into the back of the net to give Middlebury a 3-2 lead. Cronin found first-year player Erin Pittenger (McCall, Idaho) for the game's final goal at 75:36. Van Woert and rookie Al Shube (Marblehead, Mass.) combined to make three saves in goal. It took almost 100 minutes for either team to find the back of the net, but Middlebury was able to accomplish the feat as they picked up a 1-0 overtime win over Bowdoin. Following a restart, Fujii found herself with the ball on the right side from about 15 yards away. Her crossing pass was found by Cronin, who headed the ball into the net for the game-winner. Both teams had some great chances to score all game long on the rain-soaked field, but both keepers were equal to the task. Van Woert ended the day with five saves. For her impressive play, Cronin was named the NESCAC Player of the Week.
* Women's soccer record: 5-1
* Up next: 9/30 vs. Colby-Sawyer - 4:15, 10/4 @ Amherst
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MEN'S SOCCER HAS ANOTHER SOLID WEEK
The Middlebury College men's soccer team remained steady last week, earning a pair of wins along with a tie in three home games.
The week began with the team's fifth straight shutout to open the season as they topped Colby-Sawyer, 4-0. Junior Sam Raymond (Ipswich, Mass.) opened the scoring as he headed in a pass from senior Andrew Stewart (Weston, Conn.) on a restart at 16:41. Stewart made it a 2-0 game as he converted a drop pass from senior Andy Peters (Shelburne, Vt.) from inside the area at the 24:58 mark. Following a goal from junior Matt Haddad (Longmeadow, Mass.) at 39:54, the game was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning. The game remained at 3-0 until sophomore Gabe Wood (Tacoma,
Wash.) scored his first career goal at 72:46 to make it a 4-0 final. Rookie Zack Toth (Carlisle, Mass.) made two saves for the shutout in his collegiate debut.
Middlebury handed Colby its first loss of the season en route a 4-1 win as they improved to 6-0 on the season. The Panthers allowed their first goal of the season in the game, although it was on a penalty kick, ending the scoreless streak at 462 minutes. Following the converted penalty kick by Colby, senior Pat Saunders (Morristown, N.J.) tied the game for Middlebury less than three minutes later, as he headed in a corner kick from Stewart. The Panthers took a 2-1 lead late in the half when first-year player John Sales (Chatham, Ill.) scored with a rocket from 25 yards away. In the second half, Sales notched his second of the game at 65:25, while Raymond converted a Stewart pass to make it a 4-1 final. Junior Craig Hirsh (Verona, N.J.)
made no saves in goal.
Middlebury saw its winning streak stopped at six games as they battled to a 1-1 tie through 110 minutes against Bowdoin. The game was played in driving rain for a majority of the contest. The Polar Bears took a 1-0 lead roughly 10 minutes into the second half, until Middlebury earned the equalizer. The Panthers tied the game at 75:38 as Stewart made a nice crossing pass to junior John Rusten (Federal Way, Wash.), who ripped a low hard shot into the net to tie the game at one. That would be all the scoring through regulation and a pair of overtimes as the teams each came away with a tie. Hirsh made five stops on the day for Middlebury.
* Men's soccer record: 6-0-1
* Up next: 10/4 @ Amherst
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FIELD HOCKEY PICKS UP TWO MORE LEAGUE WINS
The Middlebury College field hockey team remained undefeated with two more NESCAC Conference wins last week. Their 6-0 start is the team's best since the '98 NCAA Championship team opened the year at 7-0.
The weekend began as Middlebury came back from a 2-0 first half deficit to pick up a 3-2 win over Colby. The Panthers trailed early, but controlled a majority of the game, outshooting their opponent's, 45-6 on the day. The Mules took an early 2-0 lead before the Panthers came back. Sophomore Ashley Lyddane (Greenwich, Conn.) and senior Missy Krempa (Johnstown, N.Y.) came back with two quick goals to tie the game at two heading into the break. Senior Char Glessner (Ipswich, Mass.) broke the tie with the game-winner midway through the second half. Sophomore Anna Spiegel (McLean, Va.) and first-year player Meg McGillen (Harwich, Mass.) combined to make one save for the Panthers.
The next day, the Panthers scored a pair of second half goals to pick up a 2-0 win over Bowdoin. Following a scoreless first half, Middlebury got on the board as sophomore Channing Weymouth (Plymouth, N.H.) found Glessner with 25:03 left in the second half. The Panthers gained a little breathing room 10 minutes later as sophomore Allison Smith (Darien, Conn.) tallied to make it a 2-0 game with 14:28 left to play. That would be all the scoring as Middlebury held on for the win. McGillen, playing in her first full game this season, made six saves in goal for the shutout.
* Field hockey record: 6-0
* Up next: 10/1 vs. Keene St. - 4:00, 10/4 @ Amherst
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WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL HAS BUSY WEEK
The Panther women's volleyball team was busy last week, playing five matches over a five-day span. After defeating Union early in the week, Middlebury took part in the Amherst Classic over the weekend.
At Union, Middlebury picked up a somewhat tight 3-0 (30-20, 30-27,
30-19) win. Junior Sydney Hartsock (Snohomish, Wash.) led the team with 14 kills in the match, while senior Luz Brito (New York, N.Y.) had 16 digs. First-year player Lacee Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) had 14 digs and 31 assists in the match.
In match one at Amherst, the Panthers were handed a 3-0 (30-28, 33-31, 30-24) loss at the hands of Wesleyan. Senior Danielle Boniello (Golden's Bridge, N.Y.) had 11 kills in the match, while Patterson picked up 17 digs.
Later in the night, Middlebury picked up a 3-1 (32-30, 23-30, 30-21,
30-24) win over Muhlenberg. Hartsock led the offensive attack with 15 kills, while also boasting 22 digs.
On day two of the tourney, the Panthers suffered a 3-0 (30-14, 30-11, 30-26) loss at the hands of the host school. First-year player Sasha Bronner (Los Angeles, Calif.) had five kills in the match, while sophomore Jamie Wong (San Francisco, Calif.) earned a dozen digs.
In their final match of the week, Middlebury picked up a 3-0 (30-18, 30-22, 30-28) win over Trinity. The balanced offensive attack saw junior Katy Hicks (Santa Barbara, Calif.) lead the team with nine kills, while Patterson and Wong each had 17 digs.
* Women's volleyball record: 5-5
* Up next: 10/1 @ Williams
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CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS FARE WELL AT BATES/S. MAINE INVIT.
The Middlebury College cross country teams both enjoyed success in this weekend's race as the women won their 11-team event, while the men placed seventh of 12 teams.
Leading the women's team was first-year racer Andrea Giddings (S. Portland, Maine), who placed fifth overall in 23:07, 28 seconds off the winning pace. Next for the Panthers were junior Marisa Cawley (Bennington,
N.H.) and senior Molly Yazwinski (Deerfield, Mass.) who placed ninth and 10th, both in 23:36. Rounding out Middlebury's top finishers were first-year runner Erin Archard (Vienna, Maine) in 13th (23:40), junior Jessica Manzer (Palatine Bridge, N.Y.) in 14th (23:51) and rookie Stephanie Nugent (Cambridge, Mass.) in 15th (23:52).
The men placed three in the top 30, led by junior Jonathan Erwin (Rumson, N.J.), who came in 20th in 27:33. Sophomore Garrott Kuzzy (Minneapolis, Minn.) was next in 24th (27:43), followed by senior Marshall Greene (Spokane, Wash.) in 30th with a time of 28:04.
* Cross country teams fare well
* Up next: 10/3 @ State Meet (Lyndon St.)
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MEN'S GOLF TEAM FOURTH AT NESCAC CHAMPIONSHIP
The Panther men's golf team placed fourth overall at the rain-shortened NESCAC Championship hosted by Williams. The 36-hole event was cut to 18 holes after driving rains on Sunday. Hamilton won the event, followed by Amherst and Williams.
Senior Chuck Clement (Rochester, N.H.) was the top finisher for Middlebury as he came in with a 79 on the day. First-year players Jay Yonamine (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Charles Bellmare (Bedford, N.Y.) were next, both shooting 80's on the afternoon. Rookie Mitch St. Peter (San Francisco, Calif.) finished with an 82, followed by junior Derek Singer's (Niskayuna, N.Y.) 83.
* Men's golf fourth at NESCAC
* Up next: 10/9 @ WNEC Invit.
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WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYS NESCAC OPPONENTS
The Middlebury College women's tennis team hosted a pair of NESCAC opponents last weekend, blanking Wesleyan 9-0 and falling to Tufts, 5-4.
First-year players Amy Roche (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) and Claire Smyser (Houston, Texas) both went 2-0 in singles play. In doubles action first-year player Jackie Ross (Ipswich, Mass.) and junior Sandy Spring (Westport, Conn.) along with Roche and senior Jena Siegel (Purchase, N.Y.) each won a pair of doubles matches.
* Women's tennis record: 3-1
* Up next: 10/1 vs. Williams - 4:00
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MEN'S TENNIS TURNS IN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE AT ITA REGIONAL
The Panther men's tennis team took part in the ITA Regional last weekend hosted by M.I.T. Middlebury placed all six singles players in the round of 16 in this very competitive tournament.
Turning in the top singles performance was sophomore Brian Waldron (Rye, N.Y.) who advanced to the finals before falling 6-2, 6-0. Just behind him was sophomore Nathan Edmunds (Birmingham, Mich.), who lost in the semifinals on the other side of the bracket by scores of 6-1, 6-3. Sophomore Ari Beilin (S. Hamilton, Mass.) and first-year player George Mayer (Merion, Pa.) both played well, advancing to the quarterfinals.
The top doubles performance was turned it by Waldron and senior Stuart Brown (Pt. Claire, Que.), who fell in the semifinals, 8-2.
* Men's tennis performs well at ITA Regional
* Up next: 10/4-5 @ Bates Invitational
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FOOTBALL TEAM FALLS TO 0-2
The Middlebury College football team has opened the season at 0-2 for the first time since '98 after suffering a 15-13 loss to Colby in the team's home-opener on Saturday.
Junior Andy Bohlin's (Waterville Valley, N.H.) 34-yard field goal attempt with 23 seconds left in the game was tipped by Colby as the kick went wide left, leaving the Mules with a 15-13 win over Middlebury. The Panthers gained 277 yards on the day to Colby's 128, while holding a 17-5
advantage in first downs.
After a scoreless first quarter, Colby capped off a short drive with a three-yard scoring scamper to give the Mules a 6-0 lead. Middlebury was driving to take the lead late in the half, but the Mules picked off a pass at the Colby two-yard line to preserve the lead with 2:19 left in the half.
A three and out drive and a nine-yard punt into the stiff wind left the Panther's the ball at the Colby 17 with 52 seconds left in the half. Three plays later, junior Mike Keenan (Rutland, Vt.) found sophomore Ryan Armstrong (Whitman, Mass.) for a 14-yard scoring strike to give Middlebury a 7-6 lead at the break.
Colby regained the lead early in the third quarter when junior Eric Shanley (Plymouth, Mass.) was stripped at the Middlebury 20, leading to a return of 20 yards for a touchdown to give the Mules a 12-7 lead. Colby added a 49-yard field goal late in the third quarter to increase the lead to 15-7.
Middlebury battled back midway through the fourth quarter as Shanley capped a 52-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 15-13. After a defensive hold, the Panthers had the ball back on the 50 with 4:49 left to play. The drive stalled at the Colby 17, setting up Bohlin's field goal attempt.
Shanley rushed for 103 yards on 24 carries to lead the Panthers, while Keenan completed 19 of 34 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Armstrong paced the receivers with five catches for 45 yards, including the touchdown, while junior Phil Reiff (Hinsdale, Ill.) led the Middlebury defense with 10 tackles.
* Football record: 0-2
* Up next: 10/4 @ Amherst - 1:30
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