Junior Nina Daugherty (Greenwich, Conn.) opened the scoring just 5:33 into the game as she scored after a scramble in front with a quick feed from junior Marnie Rowe (Harwich, Mass.). Neither team would score through the remainder of the half, leaving the Panthers with a 1-0 advantage at the intermission.
Middlebury held a slim lead throughout the second half, with the Pride having their best chances to score come with 17 minutes remaining. Brittany Veazie and Allie Eisele were denied by senior Meghan McGillen (Harwich, Mass.) after quick shots following a penalty corner, while McGillen stuffed another penalty corner just 30 seconds later.
Middlebury broke through late in the game, as Rowe scored on a reverse flick down low to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead with just 29 seconds remaining. McGillen ended the game with 10 saves to earn the shutout.
Middlebury scored three goals in a 3:44 span late in the second half to erase a 1-0 deficit and pick up a 3-1 win over Tufts on Kohn Field. Middlebury controlled play early in the game with several great chances to score. Senior Michelle Archambault (Weston, Mass.) was stopped by a defensive save by Meghan Becque at 18:50, while Marilyn Duffy-Cabana made a pair of big saves on sophomore Taryn Petrelli (Harrison, N.Y.) and junior Reid Berrien (Westport, Conn.) on a penalty corner later in the half. Tufts netted the only goal of the half as Ilena Casellas-Katz took a rebound off the pads of McGillen and quickly fed Michelle Kelly, who finished.
The game remained at 1-0 until the 8:15 mark of the second half when Middlebury ran off three straight goals. Rowe netted the first as she drove in from the right side before beating Duffy-Cabana. Senior Dana Rye (Virginia Beach, Va.) gave Middlebury its first lead of the game at 4:56 as she scored with a rocket from the outside after a penalty corner. Daugherty gave Middlebury some breathing room just 25 seconds later as she knocked in a feed from Berrien. McGillen ended the day with five saves to earn the win.
MEN’S TENNIS COMPETES AT CORNELL
The Panther men’s tennis team opened its fall season at the Cornell Invitational over the weekend. A Middlebury played advanced to the semifinals in each of the four singles brackets, with two teams advancing to the finals in doubles play.
Sophomore Conrad Olson (Waterloo, Belgium) and junior Filip Marinkovic (Toronto, Ont.) won the flight “B” doubles bracket, going 4-0 with an 8-5 victory in the finals. Seniors Alex Scott (Mt. Kisco) and George Mayer (Merion, Pa.) won three matches before falling 8-6 in the finals of the “A” doubles bracket.
Mayer was solid in the “A” singles flight winning twice before falling 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals. Senior Kevin Bergesen (Beverly, Mass.) fell in the semi’s of the “B” flight 6-1, 7-5 after winning twice. First-year player Andrew Lee (Eden Prarie, Minn.) also advanced to the semifinals after a pair of wins, falling 6-3, 6-3. Classmate Chris Mason (Owings Mills, Md.) won twice before bowing out in the semi’s, 6-4, 6-2. All four singles players lost to the eventual champions from Division I schools in their respective brackets
• Men’s tennis competes at Cornell
• Up next: 9/23-24 – Middlebury Invitational
CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS HOST INVITATIONAL
The Middlebury College cross country teams opened up their fall season by hosting the Panther Invitational. The women's team won the seven-team race, while the men won their eight-team event.
Senior Makely Lyon (Portland, Ore.) led the Middlebury women as she placed second overall in 19:20, 46 seconds behind Toni Wiszowaty of Plattsburgh, who won the race in 18:34. Finishing in third place was senior Andrea Giddings (S. Portland, Maine) (19:20.8), followed by sophomore Alexandra Krieg (Wellesley, Mass.) in fourth (19:32). Senior Erin Archard (Vienna, Maine) placed fifth for Middlebury with a time of 19:33, followed by senior Devyn Young (Antrim, N.H.) in sixth (19:34).
On the men's side, junior Jimmy Butcher (Garden City, N.Y.) finished in second place for the Panthers in 26:55, 49 seconds behind Matt Deshane of Plattsburgh who won the race in 26:06. Finishing in fourth was senior Will McDonough (Lancaster, N.H.) (27:37), followed by first-year racer Chris Free (Wallingford, Pa.) in eighth (28:02). Rounding out the Panther scorers were rookie Bruce Hallett (S. Londonderry, Vt.) (28:06) in ninth and sophomore Jack Wambach (Evanston, Ill.) (28:10) in 10th.
• Cross country teams host invitational
• Up next: 9/23 @ Williams Invitational
WOMEN’S SOCCER TOPS TUFTS
The Middlebury College women’s soccer team took a 2-0 first half lead and made it hold up as they earned a 2-1 win over Tufts in the team’s home-opener on Dragone Field.
Senior Caitrin Abshere (Madison Wis.) opened the scoring for Middlebury as she converted a lengthy shot from the outside after a nice centering pass from sophomore Ashley Pfaff (Charlotte, Vt.). The Panthers took a 2-0 lead later in the half as senior Laura Kwoh (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored on a header, after a previous shot was deflected away by a defender.
Tufts came out strong in the second half, holding a slim shots advantage. The Jumbos broke onto the scoreboard at 56:45 as Jessie Wagner’s corner kick was headed in by Lauren Fedore to make it a 2-1 game with 33:15 remaining. The Middlebury defense held strong for the remainder of the half, preventing Tufts from scoring the equalizer as they came away with the win.
Sophomore keeper Adele Plunkett (Austin, Texas) made 10 saves in goal to earn the win.
• Women’s soccer record: 3-0
• Up next: 9/20 vs. Keene St. – 4:00, 9/23 vs. Wesleyan – 12:00
MEN’S GOLF OPENS SEASON
The Panther men’s golf team took part in the Bowdoin Invitational last weekend before coming home to host the Duke Nelson Tournament. The men's golf team kicked off its fall of '06 schedule with a trip to Maine to take part in the Bowdoin Invitational Tournament. The Panthers finished with a 613, nine strokes back, but good for fourth place in the 15-team tournament. Leading the Panthers was junior George Baumann (Mequon, Wis.), who came in with a 152. Next for Middlebury was sophomore Harrison Bane (Marblehead, Mass.) with a 154, followed by senior Jay Yonamine (Eden Praire, Minn.) (157), senior Chad Bellmare (Bedford, N.Y.) (159) and sophomore Michael McCormick (Oak Park, Ill.) (163).
Skidmore combined for a two-day total of 591 as they captured the 2006 Duke Nelson Golf Tournament hosted by Middlebury College on the Ralph Myhre Golf Course. The Thoroughbreds held a five-stroke lead over NYU after day one, holding onto the lead as NYU finished two strokes behind at 593. Salem State placed third overall with a 597, Middlebury came in fourth at 605, followed by St. Anselm with a 607, good for fifth place. Hamilton’s Mike Hayes was the tournament medalist, following up his 71 on day one with a one-under-par 70 on day two for a 141. Leading Middlebury on the weekend was Bellmare with a 148, tying the tournament record with a 69 on day two. Next for the Panthers was Bane with a 150, followed by McCormick at 154, Baumann with a 155 and Yonamine, who shot a 157.
• Men’s golf hosts Nelson
• Up next: 9/23-24 @ Williams Invitational
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL GOES 1-2 AT NESCAC QUAD
The Middlebury College women’s volleyball team went 1-2 at Bowdoin this weekend as they took part in their first quad of the season.
Middlebury began play with a 3-1 loss to the host school on the first night. Junior Lexie Fisher (San Francisco, Calif.) had 14 kills in the match, to go along with four blocks. Sophomore Olivia Minkhorst (Atlanta, Ga.) paced the defense with 17 digs, senior Lacee Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) added 16, while first-year player Reisa Bloch (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) had 15.
The Panthers dropped their second match of the weekend on Saturday when they fell 4-1 to Colby. Fisher had a big match with 19 kills, 29 digs and 5.5 blocks. Sophomore Lindsay Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) added 13 kills and 27 digs, while Lacee Patterson had nine kills, 19 digs and 40 assists. Minkhorst chipped in with 27 digs.
Middlebury earned a win in their final match as they defeated Bates, 3-0. Fisher earned 11 kills in the match, Lacee Patterson had 31 assists, while Minkhorst picked up 10 digs.
• Women’s volleyball record: 4-3
• Up next: 9/22-23 @ Amherst Classic