For Release: November 20, 2006

CROSS COUNTRY WINS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Butcher Earns All-American Honors

The Middlebury women's cross country team won its fourth NCAA Championship. The Panthers did so with 144 points, just one point ahead of NESCAC foe Amherst in the 32-team event. Fellow NESCAC teams Tufts (5th) and Williams (8th) were also in the top 10. The race took place at the Voice of America Park, hosted by Wilmington College in West Chester, Ohio. The NCAA Championship is the 27th for Middlebury College in the last 12 years.

Middlebury, who had finished second in ’99, ’02 and ’04, turned in an impressive performance. After finishing fourth at NESCAC's, the NCAA New England Regional Champions peaked at the right time as they came on strong late in the season.

Sophomore Alexandria Krieg (Wellesley, Mass.) led the team in the title race, finishing 10th overall with a time of 23:19, 48 seconds off the winning pace. Krieg has been the Panthers third racer for most of the season and turned in her best performance of the year today.

Next for the Panthers was Andrea Giddings (S. Portland, Maine), who finished the race 25th overall in 23:40. The senior has been Middlebury's top runner all season and turned in another impressive performance in the title race.

Finishing 29th overall was senior Erin Archard (Vienna, Maine) in 23:42, while senior Claire Schultz (W. Barnstable, Mass.) came in 58th with a time of 24:20. Senior Makely Lyon (Portland, Ore.) rounded out Middlebury's scorers as she came in 68th overall in 24:29. Also competing at the NCAA Championship race for the Panthers were senior Devyn Young (Antrim, N.H.) in 84th place (24:43) and first-year racer Anne Sullivan (Westport, Conn.) in 143rd (25:49). There were 279 individuals competing in this year's championship race. Based on their finishes Krieg, Giddings and Archard all earn All-American status.

Jimmy Butcher (Garden City, N.J.) turned in an amazing performance at the NCAA Championships. The junior, who placed 47th a year ago, finished the 279-man race in 34th place overall, with a time of 27:38. With the finish, Butcher earned All-American status at the races hosted by Wilmington College in West Chester, Ohio.
• end of season

WOMEN’S SOCCER FALLS IN SECTIONALS

The Panther women's soccer team saw its season come to an end as they fell 1-0 at The College of New Jersey in the NCAA sectionals. Middlebury’s season ends after an impressive 15-3-1 record, tying the school mark for most wins in a season. It was the program’s fourth appearance in the NCAA’s. The Panthers now hold a 6-4 lifetime record in the NCAA tournament after advancing to the sectionals for the second time in the last three years.

TCNJ’s junior defender Courtney Krol scored the go ahead goal at 27:27 in the first off a free kick that she put in from about 25 yards out from the right side that trailed along the top of the net. The goal, her fifth of the year, is her second game-winning goal on the 2006 season. Middlebury's best chance to score may have come at 47:21, when senior Caitrin Abshere’s (Madison, Wis.) shot hit the crossbar.

TCNJ’s rookie goalie Jessica Clarke picked up the shutout after making three saves in the game, her tenth solo shutout of the season and the Lions’ 14th of the year. Middlebury’s sophomore keeper Adele Plunkett (Austin, Texas) made eight saves in the loss and finished the year having played all 1762 minutes in goal for the Panthers with a 15-3-1 mark.
• Women’s soccer final record: 15-3-1

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS WITH A PAIR OF WINS

The Middlebury College women’s basketball team opened up its season with a 69-63 win over Piedmont at the Amherst Tournament. Sophomore Emily Johnson (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) had a huge game for the Panthers, netting 12 of 13 free throws for a career-high 20 points on the night. Junior Katie Fisher (Oakland, Calif.) scored 16 in the win, while junior Jennifer Kelleher (Belle Harbor, N.Y.) added nine points and eight boards.

Johnson followed up her 20-point effort against Piedmont on Saturday by pouring in a career-high 25 points in a 71-49 win over UMass.-Dartmouth at Amherst. The Panthers forced 22 turnovers on the afternoon and received a well-balanced effort. Johnson was named tournament MVP for her 45 points over the two games.

Sophomore Ashley Barron (Brockton, Mass.) scored 13 points in the win, sophomore Aylie Baker (Yarmouth, Maine) netted nine with 11 boards, while junior Lani Young (Concord, N.H.) had six points, six rebounds and three blocks. Barron was named to the all-tournament team.
• Women’s basketball record: 2-0
• Up next: 11/21 vs. Norwich – 7:00

MEN’S HOCKEY OPENS 2-0

The three-time defending NCAA Champions from Middlebury opened up their 2006-07 season with a 6-2 win over Tufts. The game was played in front of a crowd of 2,045 on hand for opening night at Kenyon Arena.

After 14:42 of scoreless action, Middlebury exploded for three goals in the next 3:18, including a pair in 26 seconds. First-year player Ryan Seavy (Denver, Colo.) opened the scoring with a five-on-three power play goal as he finished after a Tom Maldonado (Bronx, N.Y.) shot was saved. Senior Brett Shirreffs (Etna, N.H.) scored a power play tally with a snap from the left side, before sophomore Mac Cummins (SW Ranches, Fla.) converted a feed from senior Darwin Hunt (Winnetka, Ill.) for a 3-0 lead.

Junior Mickey Gilchrist (Ottawa, Ont.) made it a 4-0 game 10:01 into the second period as he put home his own rebound. Sophomore Mason Graddock (Stowe, Vt.) scored a shorthanded tally to end the second period scoring, leaving the Panthers with a 5-0 lead.

Tufts got on the board midway through the final period as Brian Bailey went top shelf after a nice feed from Kurt Hertzog for a power play goal. The Jumbos struck again with a shorthanded tally at 15:25 as Bailey snapped a shot to the top right corner on a breakaway. Sophomore Kyle Koziara (W. Springfield, Mass.) ended the scoring for Middlebury as he scored on the power play with nice passing from Gilchrist and Seavy. Sophomore Doug Raeder (Needham, Mass.) made 16 saves in goal to earn the win, while Issa Azat made 36 in a losing effort.

The Panthers moved to 2-0 on the season as they hung on for a 2-1 win over Connecticut College in NESCAC play. Middlebury opened the scoring 3:11 into the game as Cummins carried the puck up ice before sliding a quick pass to rookie John Sullivan (Delmar, N.Y.) who found the back of the net. The Panthers had another great chance at the 13-minute mark, but Trevor Bradley cleared a puck off the goal line after a shot from Koziara. The best chance for the Camels came at 16:05 when junior Ross Cherry (Basking Ridge, N.J.) denied Bradley’s breakaway opportunity.

Connecticut College tied the game just 2:28 into the second period as Rob Campbell slid a pass to Trevor Bradley who beat Cherry. The Camels had a chance to take the lead at 9:30, but Ben Eischen was stopped by Cherry on a breakaway. The Panthers regained the lead moments later as Sullivan scored the game-winner after a pair of nifty moves in the slot. Connecticut College out shot Middlebury 12-8 in the period.

The Camels controlled the majority of play in the third period as well, ending the session with a 12-6 shots advantage, holding a 28-27 edge on the night. Connecticut College had a few good third period opportunities, but all were denied by Cherry, who ended the night with 27 saves to earn the win. Matt Gluck made 25 saves for the Camels.
• Men’s hockey record: 2-0
• Up next: 11/24 vs. Plattsburgh @ Norwich – 4:00, 11/25 vs. TBA – 4/7:00

SWIM TEAMS HOST INVITATIONAL

The Middlebury College swim teams opened their season by dominating the Middlebury Invitational. The Panthers hosted Gordon, Keene, UMass.-Dartmouth and St. Michaels, winning all 16 events on the afternoon.

Junior Sara Cowie (N. Palm Beach, Fla.) won the 500 free with a time of 5:14.81, followed by her teammate, rookie Katie Soja (Sudbury, Mass.), who was impressive at 5:16.56. On the men’s side, sophomore Kevin O’Rourke (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) won the 500 free with a time of 5:01.67. For complete results of the event, go to www.middlebury.edu/athletics
• Women’s swim record: 0-0, men’s swim record: 0-0
• Up next: 12/2 vs. Amherst – 1:00

WOMEN’S SQUASH OPENS SEASON

The Panther women’s squash team opened up its season with an 8-1 win over Connecticut College in a match played at Dartmouth. All of the winners for the Panthers won in either three sets or by default. Winners included seniors Hannah Baker (New York, N.Y.), Elizabeth Parker (Greenwich, Conn.) Katherine Hawkins (Memphis, Tenn.) and Kara Zarchin (Oakton, Va.). Sophomores Sarah Hatfield (Barrington, R.I.) and Avery Tilney (Philadelphia, Pa.) along with first-year players Brooke Beatt (W. Hartford, Conn.) and Elisabeth McMorris (New York, N.Y.) were all winners.
• Women’s squash record: 1-0
• Up next: 12/2-3 @ Wesleyan Invit.

MEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS 1-1

The Middlebury College men’s basketball team opened up its season with an 83-73 loss against M.I.T. at the Gordon College Tip-Off Tournament. M.I.T. built a 10-point lead early and slowly increased the margin, taking a 50-33 edge into the halftime break. Middlebury chipped away in the second half, but could only come within 10 as M.I.T. came away with the 83-73 win.

Sophomore Ben Rudin (Scarsdale, N.Y.) led Middlebury with 16 points, senior Evan Thompson (New York, N.Y.) added 15, junior Andrew Harris (Waterbury Center, Vt.) scored 11, while sophomore Aaron Smith (W. Hartford, Conn.) added 10.

The men's basketball team bounced back after an opening day loss with a 120-61 thumping of Mount Ida at the Gordon Tip-Off Tournament. The Panthers shot 59% from the floor and picked up 19 steals in the win.

Thompson led the balanced scoring attack, as everyone in the line-up found the hoop. Thompson had a team-high 14 points to go along with seven rebounds in the game. For his performances, Thompson was named to the all-tournament team.

Harris added 13 points and five steals, while sophomore Kyle Dudley (Scarsdale, N.Y.) scored 10. Rudin chipped in with six points and eight assists
• Men’s basketball record: 1-1
• Up next: 11/21 @ St. Lawrence

WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOES 1-1 AT PLATTSBURGH TOURNEY

The three-time defending NCAA Championship women's hockey team opened up its 2006-07 at a tournament hosted by Plattsburgh over the weekend. The top-ranked Panthers faced #2 Plattsburgh in the first-round of the tournament, coming away with a 4-2 loss.

Trailing 2-0 after two periods, Middlebury got on the board at 9:54 of the third period with a goal from sophomore Molly Vitt (Kenilworth, Ill.). Plattsburgh answered with a pair to take a 4-1 lead before senior Alison Graddock (Stowe, Vt.) made it a 4-2 game with just 2:50 remaining. That would be as close as the Panthers would come as they fell by a final score of 4-2. First-year goaltender Lani Wright (Reading, Mass.) made 31 saves in goal as Plattsburgh out shot Middlebury, 35-23.

Middlebury bounced back the next day with a 5-1 win over Williams at the Plattsburgh Tourney. Middlebury out shot Williams 37-26 on the day, with junior Angie Todd (Kent, Wash.) making 25 saves to earn the win.

Sophomore Erika Nakamura (Boston, Mass.) scored the lone goal of the first period to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Senior Shannon Tarrant (Brookfield, Conn.) scored two second period goals, with an Eph goal sandwiched in between, for a 3-1 lead.

Senior Shannon Sylvester (Randolph, N.J.) made it a 4-1 game in the third, before Vitt scored the game's final goal. Tarrant had two goals and an assist on the day, while Sylvester and Vitt each had a goal and an assist.
• Women’s hockey record: 1-1
• Up next: 11/25 @ Hamilton, 11/26 @ Trinity

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