For Release: October 30, 2006
MEN’S SOCCER HEADED TO NESCAC SEMI’S
The Middlebury College men’s soccer team returns to the NESCAC semifinals this weekend after a three-game week. The Panthers will play Amherst at Williams next Saturday in a semifinal contest at 1:30, while the host school meets Bates at 11:00 in the other semifinal. The Championship game is set for noon on Sunday.
Cal Mintz was stellar in goal, making 12 saves on the afternoon as Keene topped Middlebury 2-0 in a battle between a pair of top seven teams in New England. The game was filled with great chances to score for both teams throughout. Keene had a pair of opportunities in the first half at the 15 and 20 minute marks, but Pelse Mesa and Alex Horne’s shots were denied by solid saves from Middlebury senior Zack Toth (Carlisle, Mass.). Middlebury’s best chance to score in the first half came as first-year player Michael Spiak (Andover, Mass.) had a good look, before missing wide at the 33-minute mark.
Keene took a 1-0 lead at 65:28 as a headed ball deflected off the hand of a Middlebury player in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Eric Scott took advantage as he ripped a shot into the bottom right corner for a 1-0 lead.
Senior Winston Rains (Grapevine, Texas) had a good look from the outside for Middlebury in the 66th minute, but a diving save from Mintz kept it a one-goal lead. The Owls gained some breathing room at 76:39 as Horne gained a step on his defender on the left side, before scoring with a low hard shot.
The Panthers continued to pressure in the game’s final 10 minutes, but could not solve Mintz. The Keene State keeper made a great one-handed save on senior John Sales (Downington, Pa.) following a penalty kick, before doing the same on sophomore Casey Ftorek (Wolfeboro, N.H.) in the 83rd minute. He ended the game with another big save on Sales late. Toth finished the afternoon with nine saves for Middlebury.
Middlebury earned its sixth shutout of the season as they picked up a 3-0 win over Trinity in the NESCAC regular season finale. The game was played in the driving rain on Dragone Field, as Trinity ended its season at 2-10-1. Middlebury took a 1-0 lead at 27:29 of the first half as Trinity keeper Eric Wunsch came out to make a save as the ball skidded away. Ftorek gathered the ball and blasted into the open net for the 1-0 lead.
The lead doubled at the 76:53 mark as sophomore Max Mackinnon (Norwich, Vt.) converted a free kick by Rains, ripping a shot off the crossbar and into the goal. Sophomore Corey Moffat (Berkeley, Calif.) ended the scoring at 85:30 as he scored on a corner kick from Alex Elias. Toth ended the day with seven saves to earn the shutout, while Wunsch made eight stops for the Bantams.
The Middlebury men's soccer team picked up an impressive NESCAC Tournament first-round win as they traveled to Maine and defeated Bowdoin, 2-1. After nearly 60 minutes of scoreless play, a flurry of goals brought the crowd to life halfway through the second stanza. Middlebury scored first, as Sales ripped a shot from the top of the box that was deflected by a Bowdoin defender to the foot of Ftorek. Middlebury's leading scorer took one touch to draw Bowdoin netminder Nathan Lovitz off his line, and kicked the ball to the lower-left corner of the goal for a 1-0 edge at 57:38.
The hosts answered just over a minute later, however, as Justin Ito-Adler volleyed a pass into the penalty area that hit a Panther defender and came to Bowdoin captain John Hollis. Hollis collected the loose ball and toed it inside the right post to even the score at 58:58.
The game-winner came just moments following an extraordinary save by Lovitz off a Middlebury header. The Panthers earned a corner kick that junior Alex Elias (Manchester Center, Vt.) played perfectly into the box. Senior David Lee (Mendham, N.J.) struck a diving header just beyond the outstretched arms of Lovitz to give Middlebury a 2-1 edge with 25 minutes to go. Bowdoin had several chances in the closing moments, but couldn't beat Toth, who made seven stops in the winning effort.
• Men’s soccer record: 10-5
• Up next: 11/4 vs. Amherst @ Williams – 1:30 (NESCAC semifinals), 11/5 – Championship – 12:00
WOMEN’S SOCCER ADVANCES TO NESCAC SEMIFINALS
The Panther women’s soccer team had a 3-0 week, including a NESCAC Tournament win over Bowdoin. Middlebury advances to next weekend’s semifinal round at Amherst and will take on Colby at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, while the host school meets Bates at 11:00. The title game is set for noon on Sunday.
Just 4:16 into the game at Plattsburgh, senior Laura Kwoh (Pittsburgh, Pa.) accepted a pass from first-year player Lindsay Walker (Ridgewood, N.J.) and took a hard shot that deflected off Cardinal goaltender, Kathryn Lind, and found its way to the back of the net giving the Panthers the early lead.
Just 1:04 into the second period of play, sophomore Ashley Pfaff (Charlotte, Vt.) added an insurance goal for Middlebury when she received a corner kick from senior Erin Oliver (Essex Junction, Vt.) and headed the ball past the goaltender. At 60:01 Oliver finished out the scoring with an assist from senior Abby Kurtz-Phelan (Denver, Colo.). Sophomore Adele Plunkett (Austin, Texas) made one save in the victory, while Lind stopped seven for the Cardinals.
Middlebury wrapped up its regular season with a 3-0 win over Trinity in the first-ever soccer game played on Kohn Turf Field. The game was moved after heavy rain throughout the day made Dragone Field unplayable. The Panthers opened the scoring just 2:32 into the game as senior Caitrin Abshere (Madison, Wis.) converted after a goal kick was mis-hit. Oliver made it a 2-0 game at the 11-minute mark as she converted a feed from Abshere. Rookie Nora Tomlinson Weintraub (Burlingame, Calif.) scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season at 76:08 with an assist from sophomore Lindsay Rotherham (Bozeman, Mont.). Plunkett made three saves in goal for her seventh shutout of the season, while Tara Finucane made four saves for the Bantams
Middlebury earned a 3-1 win over Bowdoin in a NESCAC Tournament first-round contest played on the field turf at St. Michael’s College. Middlebury opened the scoring at the 24:26 mark as L. Walker headed in a corner kick from Oliver. Walker struck again with just 3:37 left in the half on her third goal of the season. Walker drove in from the left side, beating her defender and Bowdoin keeper Katherine Popoff one-on-one for the 2-0 lead.
Senior Kim Walker (Ridgewood, N.J.) gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead early in the second half. The goal came on a corner kick as Tomlinson Weintraub quickly slid a pass to Walker who finished. Bowdoin broke up the shutout with 6:19 remaining as Anne Zeigler scored her team-leading 12th goal of the season with a lengthy shot from the outside that sailed over the head of Middlebury keeper Plunkett. Popoff made seven saves in goal for the Polar Bears, while Plunkett picked up the win for the Panthers with four saves.
• Women’s soccer record: 11-2-1
• Up next: 11/4 vs. Colby @ Amherst – 1:30 (NESCAC semifinals), 11/5 – Championship – 12:00
CROSS COUNTRY RACE AT NESCAC’S
The Middlebury Cross Country teams took part in the 2006 NESCAC Championships hosted by Connecticut College. The Panther women placed fourth in the 11-team event, while the men came in sixth of 11 squads. Amherst won the women's race, while Williams captured the men's race.
Senior Andrea Giddings (S. Portland, Maine) led the Middlebury women in fourth place with a time of 23:15. Finishing in eighth was senior Erin Archard (Vienna, Maine) with a time of 23:26, followed by sophomore Alexandra Krieg (Wellesley, Mass.) in 10th in 23:28. Middlebury's fourth finisher was senior Claire Schultz (W. Barnstable, Mass.) in 16th place (24:14), followed by first-year racer Emily Allison (Bozeman, Mont.) in 33rd (24:51).
Junior Jimmy Butcher (Garden City, N.Y.) paced the men's team once again, finishing the race in ninth place with a time of 26:45. Coming in 26th overall was senior Will McDonough (Lancaster, N.H.) in 27:01, followed by rookie Bruce Hallett (S. Londonderry, Vt.) in 32nd with a time of 27:11. Sophomore Peter Murphy (Wilton, Conn.) was 36th overall and fourth for Middlebury in 27:16, followed by senior Chris Pelliccia (Auburn, Maine) in 55th (27:46).
• Cross country teams race at NESCAC’s
• Up next: 11/4 @ ECAC Championships (Williams)
FIELD HOCKEY RETURNS TO NESCAC SEMI’S
The Panther field hockey team defeated Wesleyan 3-2 to advance to the NESCAC semifinals. Middlebury advances to take on Tufts next Saturday at Bowdoin at 1:30 p.m. The host school meets Amherst in the other semifinal game at 11:30, with the title game set for noon on Sunday.
Kristiina Baker posted two goals and added an assist in leading Rensselaer to a 4-3 upset over Middlebury in non-conference field hockey action. Rensselaer jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first half on tallies by Michelle Clemente and Baker. Clemente scored the unassisted goal after weaving in through traffic taking a shot that sailed past the right side of Panther senior goalie Megan McGillen (Harwich, Mass.).
Baker tallied at the 28:01 mark and gave the Red Hawks a 3-0 advantage early in the second half after battling around a Panther defender for the goal at 43:37. Middlebury rallied back minutes after the Red Hawks third goal as the team’s leading scorers senior Dana Rye (Virginia Beach, Va.) and junior Reid Berrien (Westport, Conn.) both tallied to pull the visitors to within a goal.
Berrien, who finished with 10 shots on goal in the game, sent a bullet shot at the net off a corner shot from rookie Madeleine Macmillan (Milton, Mass.) who was credited with the lone assist.
First-year player Jane Mullery Doar (Winnetka, Ill.) closed the gap for the Panthers at the 62:35 mark, pushing through the RPI defense to send a shot just past the reach of senior Red Hawks’ keeper Jen O’Neil. Just over a minute later, Clemente would seal the victory for Rensselaer after tallying her second goal of the game at 63:45. On a scramble in front of the Panther net, Baker’s stick found the ball and moved it up to Clemente, who shot it past McGillen for the score. O’Neil had an outstanding night, posting 23 saves in the win for RPI. McGillen made 13 stops in the loss for Middlebury.
Middlebury ended its regular season at 12-2 as they picked up a 3-1 win over Trinity in the NESCAC season finale for both teams. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half against Trinity, as sophomore Taryn Petrelli (Harrison, N.Y.) scored her first goal of the season under driving rain on Kohn Field. The lead doubled with 7:25 left in the half as junior Lacey Farrell (Greenwich, Conn.) converted a pass from Berrien.
Trinity got on the board late in the half as Carolyn Wolcott netted her third goal of the season with 1:14 remaining. Middlebury junior Marnie Rowe (Harwich, Mass.) scored the only goal of the second half, just 2:40 into the session, for the game’s final goal. McGillen made four saves to earn the win, while Jillian Fraker made seven saves in a losing effort.
Middlebury held off a late charge by Wesleyan, picking up a 3-2 win in a NESCAC Tournament first-round match-up on Kohn Field. Middlebury jumped out early as sophomore Sophie Thompson (Greenwich, Conn.) drove towards the goal, making a spin move before beating Breen McDonald with a shot inside the right post. The lead doubled at 12:10 as Rye intercepted a pass and put a strong shot on goal that was tipped in by Rowe.
The lead grew to 3-0 in the second half as Berrien scored on a breakaway, blasting a shot from just inside the circle. The Panthers gained some more momentum at 20:54, as McGillen made a great blocker save on Courtney Tetrault penalty stroke.
Despite the big save, Wesleyan took over the momentum and pressured Middlebury for the remainder of the contest. Alexa David put the Cardinals on the board at 19:02 as she tipped in a shot from Sarah Rosenfeld on a penalty corner. Wesleyan made it a one-goal game with 5:35 remaining as Amanda Nickels’ shot was deflected by McGillen before it bounced over her and into the net. The Cardinals had one more shot late on a penalty corner, but they could not score the equalizer. McGillen ended the day with six saves, while McDonald made seven and Caitlin Kelly added one for Wesleyan.
• Field hockey record: 13-2
• Up next: 11/4 vs. Tufts @ Bowdoin – 1:30 (NESCAC semifinals), 11/5 – Championship – 12:00
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MAKES NESCAC TOURNEY
The Middlebury College women’s volleyball team has qualified for the NESCAC Tournament with another league win last week. The Panthers were seeded eighth in the eight-team tournament and will play at top seeded Williams on Friday night in the quarterfinals.
Middlebury dropped its final home match of the season as they fell to Williams, 3-0. The Panthers rallied in each set, but it wasn't enough as the Ephs came away with the win. Sophomore Kate Heath (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) led the team with 15 kills on the night, while junior Lexie Fisher (San Francisco, Calif.) added 11. Sophomore Olivia Minkhorst (Atlanta, Ga.) had 23 digs in the match, Fisher had 12, while senior Lacee Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) earned 11 with 36 assists.
The Panthers dropped their first game at Hamilton as they fell 3-0 to Amherst. Fisher had 16 kills in the loss, while Heath had 13. Patterson dished out 48 assists, Minkhorst had 26 digs, while Fisher earned 21.
Middlebury bounced back later in the day with a 3-0 win over Hamilton. Fisher had 11 kills in the win, first-year player Kate Lupo (Weston, Conn.) had nine, while Heath earned eight.
• Women’s volleyball record: 13-14
• Up next: 10/31 @ St. Michael’s, 11/3 vs. Williams (NESCAC Quarterfinals)
FOOTBALL TEAM FALLS AT TRINITY
The Panther football team could only muster up 67 yards of offense as they fell to Trinity, 34-3 in Hartford, Conn. The Panthers fall to 4-2 on the season, while Trinity improves to 5-1, including 35 wins in their last 36 games. Trinity, ranked No. 4 in New England, earns its fourth win in a row, its 22nd consecutive home win, and its 35th win in its last 36 games.
Trinity’s Gennaro Leo gained 136 yards on 22 carries, including touchdown runs of 33 and 18 yards, respectively, to lead Trinity. Leo scored on a 33-yard run with 6:15 left in the first quarter and sophomore Eric McGrath completed a 30-yard pass into double coverage that was caught by senior Joe Clark in the back of the end zone with 3:54 remaining in the opening stanza. Middlebury sophomore Brendan Kelly (Niskayuna, N.Y.) blocked the extra point on the first score to account for a 13-0 Trinity advantage.
Middlebury had a potential scoring drive stopped when senior Tiger Lyon (El Paso, Texas) fumbled the ball at the Trinity 22-yard line and it was recovered by Bantam senior Michael Soules . The Panthers returned the favor, as junior Chad Guerrero (Essex, Vt.) recovered a McGrath fumble at the Middlebury 10-yard line early in the second quarter. Middlebury could not get a first down from there, but senior Steve Hauschka (Needham, Mass.) booted a 72-yard punt over the head of Trinity junior Justin Holiday to the Bantam two-yard line. Holiday ran back and tried the pick up the ball but muffed it, and Panther sophomore Brian Marcks (Glastonbury, Conn.) pounced on the football on the three-yard line. An 11-yard sack by Bantam junior D.J. Lanz forced Middlebury to settle for a 31-yard field goal and a 13-3 halftime score.
Trinity opened the third quarter with a seven-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 36-yard scoring pass from McGrath to senior captain WR Chris Olenoski with 12:02 on the clock. The Bantams forced a punt on Middlebury’s ensuing drive and Holiday returned a 50-yard punt back 39 yards to the Panther 35-yard line. Four plays later, Leo broke free for an 18-yard touchdown run to put the game away. Trinity added a fourth-quarter touchdown on a 10-yard fade to junior WR Jeff Pratt for McGrath’s second straight, three-touchdown game.
Senior Stefan Hrdina (W. Redding, Conn.) rushed for 22 yards on seven carries, while sophomore Lucas Scherer (Green Lane, Pa.) carried the ball eight times. Lyon went 7-17 for 17 yards with an interception, while eight different players caught passes. Junior Erik Woodring (Cos Cob, Conn.) led all tacklers with 11, while Marcks recorded eight hits.
• Football record: 4-2
• Up next: 11/4 @ Hamilton – 12:00
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