For Release: April 16, 2007

WOMEN’S LACROSSE MOVES TO 7-1

The Middlebury College women’s lacrosse team scored four goals in the game's first five minutes on its way to a 17-6 win over Skidmore on Thursday afternoon at Wachenheim Field.

The game's start was delayed 20 minutes while the teams and fans worked to clear the field of nearly two inches of snow that fell after the field had been plowed.

After spotting the Panthers a 4-0 lead, Jordan McManama put the Thoroughbreds on the board at 24:40. Middlebury then scored another four straight to take an 8-1 lead. McManama scored at 13:15 and 11:20 to cut the lead to five, but the Panthers scored twice before the end of the half to extend the lead back to seven, 10-3.

Middlebury controlled play in the second half outscoring Skidmore 7-3 for the 17-6 final. Senior Liza Humes (Greenwood Village, Colo.) scored three of her game-high four goals in the first half for the Panthers. Junior Mimi Schatz (Baltimore, Md.) added three goals and an assist, while first-year player Lindsay Winstead (Chevy Chase, Md.) scored three times.

Sophomore Blair Bowie (Washington, D.C.) and junior Whitney Wildrick (Flourtown, Pa.) split time in net for Middlebury. Bowie had four saves, while Wildrick had five.

It was a tale of two halves as Middlebury led 13-2 at the intermission and held on for a 15-13 win over Trinity. The Panthers entered the game ranked second in the latest national poll, while the Bantams were in the seventh spot. The game marked the return of Middlebury native and former Panther field hockey and lacrosse player Kate Perine, who is now the head coach at Trinity.

Middlebury came out firing, scoring seven of the first eight goals to hold a 7-1 lead just 8:35 into the game. First-year player Dana Heritage (Cheshire, Conn.) and junior Reid Berrien (Westport, Conn.) each scored twice during the early run, while Humes assisted on three of the goals.

Sarah Remes broke up the Middlebury run at the 20:40 mark, only to have the Panthers close the half on a 6-0 run to hold a 13-2 lead at halftime. Junior Amanda Smith (Greenwich, Conn.) and senior Kim Walker (Ridgewood, N.J.) each scored twice during the impressive spurt.

The teams exchanged goals early in the second half before the Bantams went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 14-11 with 6:00 remaining. C.J. Yanofsky scored three times, while Alison Holmes scored twice as the Bantams crept back into the game. Smith ended Middlebury’s scoring draught with 4:51 remaining, only to have Yanofsky score twice more to make it a 15-13 game with 1:35 remaining. The Bantams gained possession of the ball with just under a minute remaining, but an interception by Berrien gave the Panthers the ball as they held on for the win.

Smith led Middlebury with two goals, while Walker, Heritage, Berrien and sophomore Kate Barton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) scored two apiece. Humes ended the day with four assists.

Bowie made nine saves in 43 minutes, while Wildrick made four saves in 17 minutes of work for Middlebury.
• Women’s lacrosse record: 7-1
• Up next: 4/18 vs. Bates – 4:15, 4/21 @ Wesleyan – 12:00

MEN’S TENNIS HAS 3-0 WEEK

The third-ranked Panther men's tennis team cruised to an 8-1 win over sixth-ranked Williams in a match played on the outdoor courts at Middlebury College. The win was the seventh straight for the Panthers over the Ephs, including the '04 NCAA Championship match. The Panthers then headed to Maine over the weekend, defeating Bowdoin 7-2 before blanking Bates, 9-0.

Date: April 11, 2007
Middlebury 8, Williams 1
Singles:
1. Alex Scott (M) defeats Daniel Greenberg, 6-2, 6-2
2. Ted Haley defeats Conrad Olson (M), 6-3, 7-5
3. George Mayer (M) defeats Nick Lebedoff, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
4. Kevin Bergesen (M) defeats Jeremy Weinberger, 6-4, 6-1
5. Filip Marinkovic (M) defeats Rick Devlin, 6-3, 6-1
6. Andrew Thomson (M) defeats Karol Furmaga, 7-5, 6-3

Doubles:
1. Scott/Mayer (M) defeat Greenberg/Gary Simonette, 8-3
2. Bergesen/Thomson (M) defeat Haley/Bret Thacher, 8-2
3. Marinkovic/Olson (M) defeat Lebedoff/Weinberger, 8-5

Date: April 14, 2007
Middlebury 7, Bowdoin 2
Singles:
1. Alex Scott (M) defeats Garrett Gates, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
2. Conrad Olson (M) defeats Alex Caughron, 6-2, 7-5
3. Jamie Neely defeats George Mayer (M), 6-4, 6-2
4. Alex White defeats Kevin Bergesen (M), 6-3, 6-2
5. Filip Marinkovic (M) defeats Adam Davis, 6-0, 7-6 (11)
6. Andrew Thomson (M) defeats Tyler Anderson, 8-4

Doubles:
1. Scott/Mayer (M) defeat Gates/Davis, 8-3
2. Bergesen/Thomson (M) defeat White/Anderson, 9-8 (2)
3. Marinkovic/Olson (M) defeats Andrew McDonald/Neely, 8-4

Date: April 15, 2007
Middlebury 9, Bates 0
Singles:
1. Alex Scott (M) defeats Amrit Rupasinghe, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
2. Conrad Olson (M) defeats Ben Stein, 4-6, 6-4 (10-7)
3. George Mayer (M) defeats Max Berger, 6-3, 6-4
4. Kevin Bergesen (M) defeats Danilo Acosta, 6-3, 6-2
5. Filip Marinkovic (M) defeats Zach Fenno, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
6. Andrew Thomson (M) defeats Ryan Mannelly, 6-2, 6-0

Doubles:
1. Scott/Mayer (M) defeat Stein/Berger, 8-6
2. Bergesen/Thomson (M) defeat Rupasinghe/Mannelly, 8-4
3. Marinkovic/Olson (M) defeat Acosta/Adam Nielson, 8-6
• Men’s tennis record: 13-1
• Up next: 4/18 vs. Skidmore – 4:00, 4/21 @ Amherst

WOMEN’S GOLF OPENS SPRING

The Middlebury College women’s golf team opened up its spring season with a third place finish at the Vassar College Invitational at the Spackenkill Country Club Saturday afternoon.

Williams finished with a team total of 346, two strokes better than host Vassar. Middlebury finished in third (367), followed by Amherst (381) and Mount Holyoke (387). The tournament was originally scheduled for two days, but due to predicted inclement weather, became a single day event.

The Spackenkill Golf Course is a par 72, 5,804 yards. The top four golfers from each team figure into overall scoring.

Third place Middlebury was led by junior Karen Levin (Morton Grove, Ill.) (90), senior Heather Gallagher (Toronto, Ont.) (91), senior Allison Ortega (Clinton, N.Y.) (92), senior Kerry Ortega (Clinton, N.Y.) (94) and sophomore Julie Ellenberger (Concord, Mass.) (95).
• Women’s golf opens spring season
• Up next: 4/21-22 @ Jack Leaman (Amherst)

BASEBALL TOPS PLYMOUTH

The Panther baseball team finally played its home-opener as the Panthers defeated Plymouth State 8-2 on Forbes Field.

Plymouth struck first as Josh Labossiere doubled to left and later scored on a single up the middle from Chip Hale in the first inning. Middlebury’s sophomore starter Steve Shortle (Rutland, Vt.) struck out the final batter of the inning to get out of a jam, allowing just one run to score.

Middlebury answered in the bottom half as a pair of two out walks set up a single to center by sophomore Mark Shimrock (Lansdale, Pa.), scoring senior Noah Walker (Oakland, Calif.). The Panthers added a run in the third on a RBI double from Shimrock, again plating Walker.

The Panthers then added three runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. First-year player Alex Blair (Salem, Mass.), drove in sophomore Pete Bourdon (Simsbury, Conn.) with an infield single, while hits from junior Gabe Broughton (Barrington, Ill.) and junior John Lanahan (Jacksonville, Fla.) plated two more runs. Middlebury added two in the fifth and one in the seven to seal the 8-2 win.

Shortle picked up his first win of the season, allowing two runs and five hits over six innings, while striking out four. Broughton and Shimrock each had two hits and two RBI for Middlebury, while Blair went 3-3 with a pair driven in.
• Baseball record: 8-8
• Up next: 4/20 @ Amherst, 4/21 @ Amherst (2)

SOFTBALL HAS 3-2 WEEK

The Middlebury College softball team dropped two of three games played in Williams on Saturday, after the games were moved due to an unplayable field in Middlebury. The Panthers took game one 2-1, dropped game two 13-9, while falling in the third contest 11-4.

Trailing 1-0 in game one, senior Ellen Sargent (St. Albans, Vt.) homered in the fourth to tie the game at one. Middlebury scored the eventual game-winner in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off homer from senior Susan Miranowski (St. Paul, Minn.). Jennifer Williams (Scarborough, Maine) earned the win, allowing a run and four hits over seven innings. Sargent ended the game with a pair of hits.

Williams led 3-0 in game two before the Panthers exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Maura Casey (Garden City, N.Y.) and junior Katelyn Cannella (Pleasantville, N.Y.) each hit two-run shots in the inning. The Ephs added three runs in the third and two in the fourth to take an 8-5 lead, before the Panthers tied the game with three in the fourth. Williams took a lead it would not relinquish with five in the sixth on their way to a 13-9 win. Cannella went 3-4 with two runs and two RBI on the day, while Sargent had three hits.

In game three, a two-run single to center by junior Allison Bard (Jenkintown, Pa.) gave Middlebury a 2-1 lead after one inning. The teams exchanged runs in the third, before Williams scored nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings on their way to an 11-4 victory. Bard went 3-4 with two RBI, while Canella had a double.

Earlier in the week, Middlebury earned a pair of wins by sweeping Castleton, 10-0 in five innings and 6-3 in the nightcap.

Williams tossed a complete game one-hitter, and the Panthers pounded out 14 hits en route to a 10-0 mercy-rule win in game one. Middlebury jumped out to an early two run lead in the top of the first on an RBI triple by Bard and an RBI single by Miranowski.

The Panthers would strike for six more runs (five earned) in the third thanks again to the middle part of the order. Bard slapped a two-run single and Miranowski provided an RBI double.

Senior Colleen Sullivan (Concord, Mass.) was the benefactor of Bard and Miranowski’s run producing as she went 3-3 with three runs scored. Bard finished game one with three RBI and two runs scored. Miranowski finished the day with two RBI and one run scored while junior Lily Hamburger (Silver Spring, Md.) and junior Carolyn Davis (Sparta, N.J.) each had two hits for Middlebury.

In the second game, junior Brittany Burke (Medfield, Mass.) went the distance for the Panthers to earn the win, striking out three and allowing three runs (two earned), in the 6-3 win.

Once again Bard provided the offense as she went 2-4 with a homerun, two RBI and one run scored. Davis had two more hits, including a double and one RBI. Sophomore Amelia Magistrali (Torrington, Conn.) also drove in a pair of runs for Middlebury.
• Softball record: 12-7
• Up next: 4/18 vs. Hamilton (Troy, N.Y.), 4/20 vs. Amherst – 5:00, 4/21 vs. Amherst – 12:00 (2)

MEN’S LACROSSE SPLITS A PAIR

The Panther men’s lacrosse team built a 4-0 first quarter lead and cruised to an 11-2 victory over previously unbeaten Rensselaer on Tuesday at Kohn Field. The two goals were a season-low for the Red Hawks and matched the fewest goals allowed by the Panthers since beating Rensselaer’s rival Union College 21-2 in 2004. The Middlebury defense shut down a potent Red Hawk attack that averaged 14.5 goals coming into the contest. During the game, Middlebury held Rensselaer scoreless on all six man-up opportunities and did not allow a goal for the final 28:58 of action.

The 4-0 first quarter run by the Panthers began with a side-arm score from junior Rory Sanborn (Glyndon, Md.) at the 13:25 mark. A Tom Petty (Newburyport, Mass.) wrap-around shot midway through the quarter gave Middlebury a 2-0 lead. With 1:17 left in the first, senior Nick Bastis (Old Greenwich, Conn.) drove to the net and bounced a shot between the legs of Rensselaer’s starting goalie John Thibdeau. Just nine seconds later, Panther junior defenseman Glenn Bickley (Washington, D.C.) scored after scooping up a face-off ground ball to give Middlebury their 4-0 lead.

Rensselaer trimmed the lead to 4-1 at the 11:57 mark in the second quarter when Josh Secora cut down the right side and snuck one past Panther senior goalkeeper Alex Palmisano (Southport, Conn.). Bastis answered that score with his second goal of the game with 8:10 remaining, giving the Panthers a 5-1 advantage going into the half.

In the third quarter, the Red Hawks scored what would be their final goal of the game when Briggs Thompson scored off a nice feed from Alex MacDiarmid, cutting the Middlebury lead to 5-2. The Panthers went on a decisive five-goal run, including a pair by sophomore Mike Stone (Boston, Mass.), building a 10-2 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Midway through the fourth, junior Jim Cabrera (Old Greenwich, Conn.) capped the Panther scoring on a determined drive to the net sealing the victory 11-2.

Bastis and Stone both collected two goals and an assist, while Sanborn collected a pair of goals for the Panthers. Palmisano made nine saves and allowed just two goals in 54:45 of action for Middlebury. Sophomore Pete Britt (Summit, N.J.) played the final 5:15 and collected a save.

Middlebury dropped its second double-overtime NESCAC road game of the year as they fell at Trinity 11-10. Junior attacker Kris Tedeschi had three goals and one assist including the game winner in the second overtime to give Trinity the win.

The teams traded goals throughout the game, staying within one goal of each other for all but two short stints in the first half. Middlebury led, 3-1, early in the first quarter and, 6-4, with five minutes remaining in the first half. Trinity’s only lead of regulation came a minute into the second quarter at 4-3 on a goal by sophomore middie Zac Trudeau.

Middlebury went ahead, 10-9, with 6:03 left in the fourth quarter when sophomore Skyler Hopkins (Easton, Md.) scored his second goal of the game. The Bantams tied it at the 4:50 mark on Curtis Kahn’s third goal of the second half, on an assist by Tedeschi, but both defenses held the game scoreless for the rest of regulation and through 7:01 of overtime play.

Bastis and Petty joined Hopkins with two goals for Middlebury, while Palmisano had 11 stops.
• Men’s lacrosse record: 6-3
• Up next: 4/17 vs. Bates – 4:30, 4/21 vs. Wesleyan – 1:00

WOMEN’S TENNIS GOES 1-1 IN MAINE

The Middlebury College women’s tennis team earned a weekend split in a pair of games played in Maine. The Panthers fell to Bowdoin 7-2 before bouncing back with a 9-0 win at Bates.

Date: April 14, 2007
Bowdoin 7, Middlebury 2
Singles:
1. Amy Roche (M) defeats Sarah D’Elia, 6-3, 6-2
2. Kristen Raymond defeats Claire Smyser (M), 6-2, 6-4
3. Kelsey Hughes defeats Elizabeth Stone (M), 0-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Elizabeth Emery (M) defeats Christine D’Elia, 6-4, 6-2
5. Brett Davis defeats Emily Holick (M), 9-7
6. Rachel Waldman defeats Clare Burke (M), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles:
1. Raymond/S. D’Elia defeat Roche/Smyser (M), 8-0
2. C. D’Elia/Hughes defeat Holick/Burke (M), 9-8 (5)
3. Waldman/Davis defeat Emery/Stone (M), 9-8 (5)

Date: April 15, 2007
Middlebury 9, Bates 0
Singles:
1. Claire Smyser (M) defeats Caryn Benisch, 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
2. Elizabeth Emery (M) defeats Alexandra Piacquad, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Elizabeth Stone (M) defeats Laura Harris, 6-2, 6-0
4. Emily Holick (M) defeats Mallika Raghavan, 6-3, 6-2
5. Clare Burke (M) defeats Julie Brown, 6-0, 6-0
6. Chandra Kurien (M) defeats Laura Will, 6-2, 6-0

Doubles:
1. Roche/Smyser (M) defeat Benisch/Harris, 8-3
2. Holick/Burke (M) defeat Piacquad/Raghavan, 8-3
3. Kurien/Jamie Haar (M) defeat Brown/Will, 8-4
• Women’s tennis record: 10-3
• Up next: 4/22 vs. Conn. College – 1:00

BUTCHER QUALIFIES

The Middlebury College track and field teams saw their meet cancelled on Saturday due to poor conditions. Junior Jimmy Butcher (Garden City, N.Y.) was looking to qualify in the 10,000 meters, a race not often run in New England during the spring. Butcher traveled to the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays in California on Friday, qualifying for the D3 New Englands, Open NE's, ECAC's, and NCAA's in the event with a time of 30:53.90.
• Track teams idle
• Up next: 4/21 @ Dartmouth Invitational

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