Edition II - November 11th, 2003

Sports Covered:

• Field Hockey
• Football
• Cross Country
• Men's Soccer
• Women's Volleyball

The Middlebury College field hockey team shutout its fourth straight opponent while capturing its first NESCAC Championship with a 1-0 win over Williams. With the win, the Panthers will make their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and host an NCAA Regional next weekend on Kohn Field.
Senior Abigail Lamb's (Mendham, N.J.) goal with 9:15 left in the first half would prove to be the difference in the game. The goal came on a penalty corner as sophomore Ashley Lyddane (Greenwich, Conn.) sent the ball to junior Lauren Nicasio (Rowayton, Conn.) who stopped it before Lamb ripped it into the cage for the tally. The Ephs had a chance to tie the game three minutes later, but their shot missed the cage after a turnover. Williams turned up the heat at the 23-minute mark of the second half with four consecutive penalty corners. First-year player Meg McGillen (Harwich, Mass.) and the Middlebury defense stood strong, denying each opportunity and holding onto the one-goal lead. The Panthers' best chance to increase the lead came with 15 minutes left as Lamb's bid for a second goal went just wide of the cage.
The Ephs certainly had opportunities in the second half with 12 total penalty corners, but the Middlebury defense, which has not been scored upon in 326 minutes, held its ground. McGillen ended the game with seven saves in goal.
In the semifinal win over Amherst senior Char Glessner (Ipswich,
Mass.) opened up the scoring at the 12:08 mark as she took a centering pass from Lyddane and flicked a shot high into the cage. Glessner struck again with 3:22 left in the half as she scored on a third shot after a pair of rebounds. Middlebury added to the lead in the second half at 21:31 as Lamb scored after a nice crossing pass from rookie Emily Enos (Hamilton, Mass.). The Panthers kept up the pressure, but the Amherst goalkeeper made some solid saves, including a big one on a rocket from Lamb at 18:05, to keep it a 3-0 contest. Neither team could muster up a goal in the game's final 21:31, leaving Middlebury with the 3-0 win.
* Field hockey record: 16-0
* Up next: 11/15 vs. NEC/Montclair winner - 10, Rowan vs. S. Maine - 1:00, 11/16 - Regional Final - 1

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FOOTBALL TEAM ENDS SEASON WITH WIN AT TUFTS

The Panther football team ended its season the right way as they picked up a 10-6 road win at Tufts, the eighth ranked team in New England. Junior quarterback Mike Keenan (Rutland, Vt.) ended the year with three single-season passing records. The Panthers are now 10-2 in the final four games in each of Coach Bob Ritter's three seasons.
Tufts was moving on its opening possession of the game, but an interception by senior Craig Pittman (Atlanta, Ga.) in the end zone ended the 55-yard drive. Pittman earned his second interception of the day later in the half. The Jumbos were the only team to score in the first half as they kicked a 35-yard field goal with four seconds left after an interception left them the ball on their own 30.
Middlebury scored on its first possession of the second half as they drove 70 yards on nine plays for the score. Senior Matt Wolf (Weston, Mass.) rushed for 32 yards on the drive, including the seven-yard touchdown. Tufts answered with a 25-yard field goal to cut the Panther lead to 7-6 at the 7:59 mark. Tufts was driving later in the quarter, but a fumble on the Middlebury 15 was recovered by Pittman. Middlebury gained some breathing room with 5:36 left to play as junior Andy Bohlin (Waterville Valley, N.H.) booted a 30-yarder to increase the Middlebury lead to 10-6. Tufts was forced to punt on its next possession before Middlebury gained two first downs to run out the clock.
Wolf ended the game with 115 yards rushing on 29 carries for the Panthers. Keenan completed 10 of 20 passes for 104 yards on the day. He is now the school's single-season leader in completions with 136 (John Wenner 124 in '99), attempts with 249 (John Wenner with 242 in '99), while tying Peter Mackey's record of 1,596 yards passing in '71. Sophomore Coleman Hutzler (Las Vegas, Nev.) led the defense with 14 tackles, while junior Richard Decembrele (Walpole, Mass.) added 10. Pittman had four tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery on the afternoon.
* Football final record: 4-4

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CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS COMPETE AT ECAC RACES

The Middlebury College cross country teams competed at the ECAC Championships last weekend. The women placed second of 31 teams, while the men came in sixth of 33 teams.
Leading the women in third place was senior Margery Glover (Lancaster, Pa.) with a time of 23:21 in third place, 27 seconds off the winning pace. Placing eighth was sophomore Kelsey Rinehart (Moorestown, N.J.) with a time of 23:42, followed by sophomore Nora Segar (Amherst, Mass.) in 13th place in 23:56. Rounding out the top five racers where rookie Claire Schultz (W. Barnstable, Mass.) in 17th place (24:10) and classmate Makely Lyon (Portland, Ore.) in 19th place (24:15).
Top racer for the men was first-year racer Neal Dignum (Loudonville, N.Y.), who placed 19th with a time of 27:51. Senior Jakub Benes (Oakland, Calif.) was next for the Panthers in 28th place in 28:07, followed by senior Nate Silverson (Westtown, Pa.) in 39th place with a time of 28:23. Placing 50th overall was senior Simon Isaacs (Norwich, Vt.) in 28:35, followed by first-year racer Chris Pelliccia (Auburn, Maine) in 53rd place with a time of 28:37.
* Up next: 11/15 @ NCAA Regional

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WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ENDS SEASON

The Middlebury College women's volleyball team ended its season with a 3-0 (30-23, 30-26, 30-21) loss to Bates at Williams in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC Tournament.
Junior Katy Hicks (Santa Barbara, Calif.) led the team with eight kills, while first-year player Lacee Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) added six. Paterson led the defense with 13 digs, while sophomore Jamie Wong (San Francisco, Calif.) added 12.
* Women's volleyball final record: 12-13

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MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SPORTS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB:

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