For Release: March 5, 2007

MEN’S HOCKEY WINS SEVENTH NESCAC TITLE

The Panther men’s hockey team Middlebury won their fourth consecutive NESCAC Championship, defeating Bowdoin 4-2 on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers (17-7-3) beat the Polar Bears (16-7-3) for the third straight year in the conference title game, and dealt Bowdoin their first loss at Dayton Arena this year (11-1-0). The Panthers earn the NESCAC's automatic bid and their 13^th straight trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Middlebury will host Fredonia on Wednesday, March 7^th at 7:00 p.m. in the first-round.

Bowdoin earned the first power play of the game, but it was Middlebury who took advantage, as Panther senior Brett Shirreffs (Etna, N.H.) intercepted a pass at center ice and skated in on Polar Bear netminder Chris Rossi, snapping a wrist-shot that slipped through the pads just 4:09 into the game. Moments later, sophomore Jamie McKenna (Lake Placid, N.Y.) had a breakaway chance for the Panthers, but Rossi was able to keep the deficit at one goal thanks to a nice kick save. The Polar Bears' best early chance came courtesy of Bryan Ciborowski, who snapped a wrist shot from the left face-off circle that sailed just high off the crossbar. With under five minutes left in the frame, Bowdoin's Mitch Dillon ripped a shot from the left slot that rang off the post, keeping it a 1-0 Middlebury lead after the opening period.

The two netminders traded good saves to open the second stanza, as junior Ross Cherry (Basking Ridge, N.J.) made a sliding stop off the stick of Bowdoin's Sebastien Belanger, while Rossi smothered a McKenna shot from between the circles. Bowdoin increased the offensive pressure, but still couldn't find the back of the net, as Colin MacCormack snapped a shot from the right circle that hit the far post and sailed wide. The Polar Bears earned another power play midway through the second frame, but the Panthers were again the team to score, as junior Justin Gaines (Mequon, Wis.) collected a turnover in the neutral zone, came loose on a breakaway, and beat Rossi stick-side to make it 2-0. Another turnover by Bowdoin set the stage for Middlebury's third goal, as senior Evgeny Saidachev (Gig Harbor, Wash.) found junior Mickey Gilchrist (Ottawa, Ont.) between the circles. Gilchrist banged home the one-timer feed to give the visitors a three-goal advantage.

Shortly after the Panthers scored their third goal, Bowdoin earned a 5x3 power play chance. The Polar Bears were finally able to take advantage, as Tim McVaugh took a shot from the left face-off circle that got past Cherry at 13:16, cutting the deficit to two goals.

After Bowdoin pulled netminder Rossi with 2:28 remaining, Colin Hughes finished off a scrum in front to close the gap to one goal. The Polar Bears pulled Rossi again, but were unable to find the equalizer in the closing moments as McKenna added an empty-netter with just 25 seconds remaining.

Rossi finished with 22 saves for Bowdoin, while Cherry stopped 32 shots for the Panthers. The Middlebury win avenges an earlier loss to the Polar Bears at Dayton Arena this season, and gives the Panthers their seventh title in the last eight years.

Middlebury advanced to the title game after a 4-3 win over Colby in a NESCAC semifinal match-up at Bowdoin. Junior Scott Bartlett (Pittsford, N.Y.) scored two goals, including the game-winner late in the third period, to lift Middlebury to the win. Colby finishes their year with a record of 14-9-2.

Colby took an early lead in Saturday's game, as Arthur Fritch took a feed at the blue line and skated in, taking a backhanded shot that deflected off a Middlebury defender's stick and past sophomore goaltender Doug Raeder (Needham, Mass.) just 6:43 into the game. Middlebury answered quickly, when junior Tom Maldonado (Bronx, N.Y.) beat a Colby defender against the boards and snapped a wrister that richoted off the crossbar and into the twine to tie the game at 15:21.

The Panthers were able to take the lead late in the frame, as senior Darwin Hunt (Winnetka, Ill.) took a feed from the right face-off circle and slapped a shot that slipped through the pads of Ben Grandjean just 1:37 before intermission.

Colby evened things early in the second period, as Joe Rothwell rifled a shot to the top-corner, beating Raeder on his blocker-side to tie the game at 4:20. Middlebury replied just 20 seconds later, as a scrum in front of the Colby goal saw the puck come loose in front, where Bartlett poked home the rebound for a 3-2 Middlebury lead. But Colby managed to tie the game for the third time just 1:13 later, as Fritch buried a shot from the high slot to make it 3-3 heading into the third period.

Middlebury made several bids to take the lead early in the final frame, but Grandjean made several strong saves to keep the contest tied. The Panthers finally broke through with just 5:50 remaining, as Bartlett ripped a slapshot from the right-point, beating Grandjean stick-side to give Middlebury a 4-3 edge. Colby earned two power plays late, but couldn't beat Raeder, who finished with 26 saves. Grandjean stopped 32 shots for Colby.
• Men’s hockey record: 17-7-3
• Up next: 3/7 vs. Fredonia – 7:00 (NCAA First Round), if win, host UMass.-Dartmouth on 3/10 @ 7:00

WOMEN’S HOCKEY LOSES MARATHON TITLE GAME

Amherst won its first NESCAC Championship as they defeated Middlebury 2-1 in the longest game ever played in NCAA Division III women’s hockey. The triple-overtime game lasted almost 102 minutes, with Amherst goaltender Krystyn Elek making a tournament-record 65 saves as her team was out shot 66-24 on the day.

Amherst scored the game-winner just 1:54 into the third overtime when Molly Malloy carried the puck around the back of the net and attempted a wrap-around shot. Middlebury’s first-year goaltender Lani Wright (Reading, Mass.) slid across the crease and made a pad save. The puck sat in the crease where Anna MacLean quickly snapped a shot over Wright’s pad and into the net.

Both teams had some great chances early, with the Jeffs going on a power play just 1:26 into the game. Tarasai Karega had an opportunity at 3:15, but her shot from the right hit the far post. Middlebury sophomore Randi Dumont (Greene, Maine) was then stopped on the doorstep by Elek at 5:16. The teams exchanged another pair of great opportunities at the 7:30 mark. After Alena Harrison’s shot earmarked for the top right corner was saved by Wright, senior Abby Kurtz-Phelan (Denver, Colo.) hit the left post just 15 seconds later.

Amherst took a 1-0 lead at 15:01 as Lindsey Harrington sent a pass to the crease from behind the net. Wright tried to poke the puck away, as it slid to MacLean, who fired a hard shot into the right side of the net. Middlebury tied the game with a power play goal at the 16:49 mark. Senior Shannon Tarrant (Brookfield, Conn.) sent a pass to the left face-off circle, when junior Karen Levin (Morton Grove, Ill.) quickly snapped a shot past Elek. The Panthers had a chance to take the lead with one minute remaining, but sophomore Annmarie Cellino’s (W. Seneca, N.Y.) shot hit the right post.

Middlebury dominated the second period, out shooting Amherst 18-2 in the stanza. The Panthers were unable to get anything past Elek, who stopped all 18 shots she faced.

The third period was scoreless as well, with each team having some scoring chances. Elek continued her stellar play as she robbed Kurtz-Phelan on a backhander midway through the period. Molly Malloy had a chance for the Jeffs with 2:45 left, but Dumont cleared the puck with a hand-pass after a save by Wright. Elek made one more stop with 20 seconds remaining as she denied Dumont who was driving toward the goal.

Each of the first two overtime periods saw both teams with chances to score, with Middlebury controlling a majority of the play. The Panthers out shot the Jeffs 17-7 in the first OT and 12-3 in the second. Each team had a power play opportunity in the first extra session, but were unable to score.

In the semifinals, Middlebury scored three second period power play goals on its way to a 7-2 win over Hamilton. Middlebury took a 1-0 lead 6:37 into the game as Kurtz-Phelan tipped in a shot from the point by senior Shannon Sylvester (Randolph, N.J.). Hamilton answered with a power play goal at 8:45 as Lauren Tomford scored through the five hole with a wrister from the high slot. The Continentals took a 2-1 lead with 2:22 left in the period as Jodi Raymond carried the puck down the left wing before sliding a quick pass to Courtney Demaria, who finished at the far crease. Middlebury out shot Hamilton 15-5 in the period, but trailed 2-1.

The first of Middlebury’s three second period power play goals came at 2:24 as Tarrant scored with a blast from the point. Kurtz-Phelan struck again at 8:33 as she tipped in a shot from Sylvester. First-year player Ashley Bairos (Van Nuys, Calif.) scored the third of the period with 5:01 remaining, hitting an open net from the slot after Hamilton’s Meg Shine had made a save.

Middlebury continued its offense on the power play in the third period as Bairos scored her second of the game. Junior Tania Kenny’s (Toronto, Ont.) shot from the left wing was tipped by sophomore Molly Vitt (Kenilworth, Ill.), before Bairos poked the puck over the goal line. Sylvester made it a 6-2 game at 6:23 as she scored on an open net after a pair of saves by Shine. Vitt added a power play goal at 16:44 for the game’s final goal.

Senior Angie Todd (Kent, Wash.) ended the day with 10 saves in goal to pick up the win for Middlebury, while Shine made 37 for the Continentals.
• Women’s hockey record: 22-1-2
• Up next: 3/9 vs. Manhanttanville – 7:00 (NCAA Quarterfinals)

BAKER AND HATFIELD COMPETE FOR WOMEN’S SQUASH AT NATIONALS

Senior Hannah Baker (New York, N.Y.) and sophomore Sarah Hatfield (Barrington, R.I.) competed in the “B” division at the Women’s Squash Individual Championships last weekend. Baker won a pair of matches before falling in the quarterfinal round, including a win over the sixth-ranked player from Mt. Holyoke. Hatfield was defeated in her first round match, but came back to win a pair of matches in the back-draw.
• end of season

BUTLER LOOKS IMPRESSIVE AT ECAC’S

Senior Beth Butler (Bronxville, N.Y.) enjoyed another good performance last weekend, placing sixth overall in the 800 meters with a time of 2:20.02. She will head to the NCAA’s next weekend to compete in the 800.
• Indoor track races at ECAC’s
• Up next: 3/10 @ NCAA’s - Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (Terre Haute, Ind.)

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SPORTS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB: www.gomidd.com