For Release: February 25, 2008
WOMEN’S SWIM TEAM PLACES SECOND AT NESCAC’S
The Middlebury College women’s swimming and diving team turned in an impressive performance as the Panthers placed second at the NESCAC Championships hosted by Wesleyan. Williams won the event, with Amherst placing third and Connecticut College coming in fourth.
Seniors Marika Ross (Shorewood, Wis.) and Alanna Hanson (Golden Bridge, N.Y.) both earned impressive honors. Ross shared senior swimmer of the year honors, given to the athlete with the most points scored at NESCAC Championship meets, while Hanson earned the honor in diving.
Ross ended the meet with three individual NESCAC titles, capturing the 50 fly (25.76), 100 fly (56.08) and the 200 fly (2:02.23). Her time in the 50 was a varsity record, her 100 effort was a Wesleyan pool record and an NCAA “A” cut, as was her performance in the 200.
Also capturing the NESCAC title was the 200 free relay team, who set a varsity record, Wesleyan pool record and made an NCAA “A” with a time of 1:35.43. The team comprised of Ross, senior Pam Chatikavanij (Bangkok, Thailand), sophomore Katie Remington (Madison, Wis.) and first-year swimmer Emily McDonald (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) finished the race with the fastest time in the country this season.
McDonald made a “B” cut with a second place finish in the 50 free (24.09), while doing the same with a varsity record in the 100 free (52.04). Senior Sara Cowie (N. Palm Beach, Fla.) placed second in the 1000 free (10:27.48), while Hanson earned a second place finish with 447.85 points in three-meter diving.
Three Middlebury relay teams turned in impressive performances, all placing second at the meet. The 400 medley squad of Ross, McDonald, junior Catherine Suppan (Burlington, Vt.) and senior Katie Chambers (Annapolis, Md.) made a “B” cut in 3:55.33. Also earning a “B” cut were the 200 medley team comprised of Chatikavanij, Suppan and rookies Annie Friedlander (Deephaven, Minn.) and Jessie Ward (Pittsford, N.Y.), who finished with a time of 1:47.85. The third of the three second place relay teams was the 400 free squad, who made an “A” cut and set a new school record with a time of 3:29.56. Team members on that record-breaking relay were Ross, McDonald, Chatikavanij and Remington.
• Women’s swim finishes second at NESCAC’s
• Up next: 2/29-3/2 - HOST NESCAC Men’s Championships
MEN’S BASKETBALL HEADED TO NESCAC FINAL FOUR
The Panther men’s basketball team out-scored Williams 36-5 in the final 11:33 of the second half as Middlebury picked up its first-ever NESCAC Tournament victory with a 96-59 thumping of the Ephs. The Panthers placed six players in double figures, shot an impressive .583 from the floor and never trailed in the game. Middlebury advances to the NESCAC semifinals next weekend at Amherst and will take on Trinity at 8:00 p.m., while Bowdoin meets the host school in the other contest at 6:00 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 2:30. Middlebury improves on its school record with its 19th win of the year, against just six losses, while Williams ends its season with a 17-8 mark.
Middlebury came out firing early, grabbing an 11-4 lead in the game’s first 3:27. Senior Andrew Harris (Waterbury Center, Vt.) opened the game with a three from the corner, while knocking down another trey from the top of the circle to make it a 6-2 game. Williams answered, before sophomore Tim Edwards (Greenwich, Conn.) hit a three from the corner and junior Ben Rudin (Scarsdale, N.Y.) hit a 15-footer from the top of the key to give the Panthers the 11-4 early lead.
Williams cut the lead to three after Chris Rose knocked down three free throws after getting fouled behind the arc at 12:58. The Panthers answered as junior Kyle Dudley (Scarsdale, N.Y.) hit a three and senior Albert Handy (Waterbury, N.Y.) knocked down a jumper to give them their biggest lead of the half at 24-16.
The Ephs came within one three times before Middlebury regained a seven-point lead on another hoop from Handy and some inside work from junior Aaron Smith (W. Hartford, Conn.). Williams cut the lead to a pair on a hoop from Chris Shalvoy with less than a minute to go, entering halftime with a 42-39 deficit. The Panthers shot .545 from the floor in the first half, while the Ephs hit .483 of its shots. Williams out-scored Middlebury 9-1 from the free throw line in the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Dudley converted a three-point play to give Middlebury a 58-50 lead at the 12:54 mark. Matt Weisbrot answered for Williams before a block by rookie Andrew Locke (Seattle, Wash.) set-up Dudley for a fast-break layup to regain the eight-point advantage.
Troy Whittington hit a bucket for the Ephs at the 11:33 mark, but Williams would not score for the game’s next 4:47, going 0 for 3 from the floor and committing five turnovers during the span. During that time, the Panthers went on a decisive 10-0 run to take a 70-54 lead. A three from the corner by Handy and one from the top of the circle by Harris sparked the offensive burst.
A pair of free throws by Shalvoy ended the Middlebury run with 6:45 remaining, but the Ephs’ shooting woes continued, making just one of their last 10 shots down the stretch. While Williams struggled in the final 11:33, connecting on only 1 of 13 from the floor, Middlebury shot an impressive 10 of 13, including 6 for 6 from behind the arc.
Middlebury was paced by Smith’s team-high 17 points and seven rebounds, while Harris chipped in 15, hitting 4 of 6 three’s. Handy added 13 and seven boards, Rudin scored 11 and dished out a game-high six assists, while Dudley and Edwards netted 10 apiece. Blake Schultz’ game-high 19 led a trio of Ephs in double figures, as Shalvoy scored 13 and Rose added 10.
During the pivotal second half, Middlebury outscored Williams 54-20, holding Williams to 22 percent shooting and forcing 12 turnovers. The Panthers handed out 19 assists and made 12 of 16 three-pointers in the game, while the Ephs were 4 of 15 from behind the arc.
• Men’s basketball record: 19-6
• Up next: 3/1 vs. Trinity @ Amherst – 8:00 (NESCAC semifinals), if win: 3/2 – NESCAC Championship – 2:30
SKI TEAM FINISHES SECOND AT OWN CARNIVAL
Middlebury College skied their way to a second place finish at their own carnival, the EISA Championships. The Panthers hosted the events at the Rikert Ski Touring Center and the Middlebury College Snow Bowl. Dartmouth won the races with 928 points, followed by Middlebury (906), UVM (868.5) and UNH (796). The men's GS team won its event, while the men's slalom, women's 5K free and women's 10K classic events saw Middlebury place second.
Junior Andrew Wagner (Traverse City, Mich.) captured the GS (1:55.53) and placed third in the slalom (1:57.13) to pace the Panthers. Senior Alec Tarberry (N. Conway, N.H.) came in fifth (1:57.13) in the GS, followed by senior Joseph Swensson (Niantic, Conn.) in sixth (1:57.15). The duo were eighth and ninth in the slalom event, with Tarberry finishing in 1:32.22 and Swensson in 1:32.27.
Senior Krissy Poehling (LaCrosse, Wis.) led the women in the GS with a time of 2:01.03, good for fourth place. Just behind her in fifth was senior Megan Hughes (Killington, Vt.) in 2:01.53, followed by first-year skier Lindsay Kraft (Coldstream, B.C.) in 13th place (2:03.82). Hughes led the pack in the slalom, coming in fourth place with a time of 1:38.51. Poehling was next in ninth (1:40.11), followed by Kraft in 17th (1:42.52).
Junior Robyn Anderson (Stowe, Vt.) was Middlebury's top finisher in the 5K freestyle race on the women's side, placing third with a time of 13:41. Next was junior Cassidy Edwards (Glen Arbor, Mich.) in seventh (13:58) and sophomore Claire Luby (St. Paul, Minn.) in ninth (14:03). Edwards led the pack in the 10K classical, finishing ninth overall with a time of 30:59. Anderson came in 12th in the race (31:11), followed by Luby in 14th (31:17).
First-year athlete Patrick Johnson (Anchorage, Alaska) led the Panther men in the 10K freestyle race, owning fourth place in 22:50. Junior Tim Reynolds (Bristol, Vt.) was next for Middlebury, finishing in eighth place in 23:01, followed by senior Matt Johnson (Anchorage, Alaska) in 17th (23:36). Johnson again led the team in the 15K classical race, earning a 12th place finish in 41:41. Placing 14th was M. Johnson (42:04), followed by Reynolds in 19th (42:21).
• Ski team finishes second at Middlebury
•Up next: 3/5-8 @ NCAA Championships ( Montana State )
WOMEN’S SQUASH FALLS IN WALKER CUP FINAL
The Panther women's squash team had an impressive showing at the Walker Cup hosted by Princeton over the weekend. The Panthers swept St. Lawrence 9-0 in a quarterfinal match, before defeating William Smith 7-2 in the semifinals. Middlebury fell 7-2 to Vassar in the title match, despite a great effort. Junior Caroline Woodworth (Princeton, N.J.) led the Panthers with a 3-0 record over the weekend
Complete results can be found on the Middlebury Athletics website at: http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/sports/womens/squash/2007-2008/news/news_633394606148347346.htm
• Women’s squash final record: 10-9
• Up next: 2/29-3/2 @ Nationals @ Naval Academy
WOMEN’S HOCKEY CLINCHES TOP SEED FOR NESCAC TOURNEY
The Middlebury College women’s hockey team wrapped-up an undefeated NESCAC season as they defeated Wesleyan 5-1 to end the regular season. The Panthers have clinched the top seed in the NESCAC and will host the conference semifinals and finals on March 8th and 9th in Kenyon Arena.
In defeating Wesleyan, Middlebury moved ahead 2-0 in the first period as first-year player Anna McNally (St. Paul, Minn.) tipped in a point shot on the power play at 6:22 for her 19th of the season and assisted on senior Karen Levin's (Morton Grove, Ill.) shot from the right side, which slipped in under the padding of Wesleyan junior goalie Rachel Stemerman at 16:46. Levin had an assist on the first goal as well.
The Cardinals got their lone goal on the power play 1:27 into the second period as a relatively innocent shot from beyond the blue line by junior Julia Cohen eluded sophomore keeper Lani Wright (Reading, Mass.), who finished with 16 saves. Wesleyan then had a two-man advantage for 1:14 but could not come up with a tying goal. Still down a player, Middlebury got a break-away from junior Molly Vitt (Kenilworth, Ill.) who was pulled down from behind, resulting in a penalty shot. Stemerman, who collected 27 stops on the afternoon, made the save as Vitt went to her left, keeping it a 2-1 game, but just 17 seconds later sophomore Heather McCormack (Rowley, Mass.) made it 3-1 by wheeling around from the left side to score in tight.
Middlebury added a pair in the third period to lock up the win, both coming on nice tip-ins from the slot off point shots, the first at 9:33 by junior Erika Nakamura (Boston, Mass.) and the second by McCormack at 14:49 for her second of the game and seventh of the year.
Wesleyan's season came to an end while the Panthers now await the outcomes of the first-round NESCAC tournament games which take place Saturday, March 1 to find out who they will play in a NESCAC semifinal game.
On Friday night, Vitt and Levin each picked up two goals and two assists to help lead Middlebury past host Hamilton 7-0. The Panthers got the only offense it needed when Vitt knocked a rebound past Hamilton starting goalie Meg Shine just 1:29 into the opening period. Levin and Nakamura assisted.
The Panthers poured it on from there. Levin made it 2-0 when her shot from the point during a power play glanced off a Hamilton defender and into the net at 5:04 of the first period. Junior Annmarie Cellino (W. Seneca, N.Y.), who finished the game with a goal and four assists, and Vitt assisted. Levin's second goal with just 11 seconds remaining in the period off McNally and Cellino assists began to put the game away. McNally finished with three assists.
Middlebury kept its foot on the pedal in the second period, scoring three more times to take a 6-0 lead into the final frame. Rookie Kristen Wilson (Vancouver, B.C.) scored at 4:56 off assists from McNally and Cellino. Cellino scored at 10:55 on the power play off Vitt and McNally helpers and Vitt scored her second goal at 18:08 off Cellino and Levin assists.
Hamilton pulled Shine, who stopped 21 of 27 shots, at the start of the third period. Kat Manning took over and stopped the bleeding by blocking 20 of 21 shots in the final frame. First-year player Lexi Bloom (Highland Park, Ill.) made 16 saves to post the shutout for Middlebury. McCormack scored the only third period goal just 67 seconds in on the power play.
• Women’s hockey record: 19-2-3
• Up next: 3/8-9 – Host NESCAC Semifinals/Finals
MEN’S HOCKEY FINISHES REGULAR SEASON WITH TWO WINS
The Panther men’s hockey team Middlebury wrapped up its regular season with a 5-2 win over Hamilton. The Panthers have earned the second seed in the NESCAC Tournament and will host seventh-seeded Williams next Saturday at 4:00 in a quarterfinal contest. Colby has earned the top spot and will have home ice as far as they advance.
Hamilton took a 1-0 lead at 12:49 of the first period with Chris Lorenc snipped a shot into the back of the net from the right face-off circle. Sophomore Charlie Townsend (Pennington, N.J.) answered for Middlebury at 17:38 as he scored on a similar shot from the left face-off circle.
Middlebury took a 2-1 lead 6:59 into the second period with a power play goal. First-year player Michael Kretschmer (Indianapolis, Ind.) fed senior Scott Bartlett (Pittsford, N.Y.), who scored from the right side. Senior Ross Cherry (Basking Ridge, N.J.) kept it a one goal lead for Middlebury, as he stacked the pads for a beautiful save on Zach Pych at the nine-minute mark. The Panthers had a great chance at 12:30, but rookie Bryan Curran’s (Wilmette, Ill.) shot hit the left pipe. Middlebury broke through at 13:53 as senior Tom Maldonado (Bronx, N.Y.) took a feed from senior Robert MacIntyre (Calgary, Alberta) and scored with a shot from the left point that deflected in off a defender.
Shortly after MacIntyre hit a pipe, first-year player Ken Suchoski (Bear Creek Township, Pa.) scored to make it a 4-1 Panther lead 9:41 into the third period. Hamilton answered with a shortie at 12:10 as Travis Blood found the back of the net. Bartlett ended the scoring with 1:50 remaining with his second power play of the game.
Cherry ended the day with 16 saves for Middlebury, while Ian Sterns made 33 stops for the Continentals.
On Friday night, the Panthers picked up a 5-2 win over Amherst to break a three-game skid. Amherst took a 1-0 lead at the 14:34 mark of the first period, as Kyle Schoppel found the back of the net. His initial shot from the left face-off circle was blocked, as the puck fell at his feet just outside the crease before he buried it.
Middlebury tied the game at the 7:16 mark of the second period with a five-on-three power play goal. Maldonado found MacIntyre at the left face-off circle, as he paused to clear traffic before snapping a shot into the top right corner for the equalizer. The Panthers continued to threaten with the remaining power play, but could not take the lead. Middlebury dominated the first half of the period, out-shooting Amherst 9-0 through 10 minutes of play.
The Panthers broke through with another power play goal at 15:38 to take a 2-1 lead. Maldonado scored the goal with a snapper from the right point after a feed from MacIntyre. Shane Lennox nearly answered for Amherst a minute later, but his shot from the left side hit the pipe.
Senior Jed McDonald (Hingham, Mass.) gave the Panthers a 3-1 lead 11:22 into the third as he intercepted a clearing pass and blasted home a shot from the right point. Amherst cut the lead to one with a five-on-three power play goal just 1:31 later. Keith Nelson fed Jeff Landers, whose slap shot from the right side found the back of the net. The Jeffs pulled their netminder with 45 seconds remaining, but Middlebury sealed the game with an empty-netter by Maldonado.
Cherry made 13 saves in goal to earn the win, while Cole Anderson made 26 stops for Amherst.
• Men’s hockey record: 16-6-2
• Up next: 3/1 vs. Williams – 4:00 (NESCAC Quarterfinals)
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ENDS SEASON WITH LOSS TO TUFTS
The Middlebury College women’s basketball team saw its season come to an end as the Panthers fell 71-60 at Tufts in a NESCAC quarterfinal match-up. Junior Emily Johnson (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) scored a game-high 23 points for the Panthers, knocking down 6 of 9 from three-point territory.
Khalilah Ummah scored 22 points with seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks to lead 15th ranked Tufts to the win. The Jumbos never trailed in the game against the Panthers, but the visitors were persistent. Tufts had an early 15-4 advantage, with seven of the points coming from Kim Moynihan. The Panthers were able to narrow the Jumbo lead to six four times in the first half, including 24-18 after a three-pointer by Ashley Barron (Brockton, Mass.) at the 10-minute mark.
After a quick start offensively by both teams, they were less successful in the next 10 minutes of the first half. The Jumbos led 36-23 on a three-pointer by Vanessa Miller with 2:56 to go until intermission. Johnson scored five points in the final two-and-a-half minutes to get the margin into single-digits, 36-28, by the half. She had 14 at the break, while Ummah had eight for the Jumbos.
Middlebury came out strong in the second half and tied the score at 38-38 when Johnson capped a 10-2 run with a three-pointer at 17:29. Ummah’s lay-up at the other end gave the lead back to Tufts for good, but it was a tight ballgame until the Jumbos blew it open with a run.
Leading 46-42 at 12:12, the Jumbos scored the next 17 points to go ahead 63-42 with 5:49 left in regulation. Seven points by first-year guard Collen Hart spurred the stretch for the hosts.
The Panthers again showed some resilience by cutting the deficit to 11 points (67-56) with 90 seconds to go. However, the Jumbo lead was too big and the hosts advanced to the NESCAC semi-finals for the second straight year.
The Jumbos shot 60 percent in the second half (15/25) to finish at 53.6 for the game (30/56). Moynihan added 11 points and four assists to the winning effort, while Miller pitched in with a career-high 10 points. She hit on 4 of 5 shots, including two threes.
Senior Lani Young (Concord, N.H.) was near a double-double for the Panthers with 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Senior Katie Fisher (Oakland, Calif.) also scored in double figures for Middlebury with 10 points. Middlebury shot 53.3 percent from long range (8/15) for the game.
• Women’s basketball final record: 13-12
INDOOR TRACK COMPETES AT NEW ENGLAND’S
The Panther indoor track teams took part in the Division III New England’s at two different sites this weekend. The men were competing at Tufts, while the women were in action at Smith. The women’s squad saw several relay teams turn in impressive performances on Saturday.
The women’s DMR relay team comprised of junior Alexandra Krieg (Wellesley, Mass.), junior Simone Weisman (Newton, Mass.) and first-year runners Sophia Spring (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.) and Christina Kunycky (Marlborough, Mass.) finished second overall with a time of 12:26.35. The 4x200 team placed third with a time of 1:48.36, with senior Liz Huntley (Coralville, Iowa), sophomore Anjuli Demers (Dracut, Mass.) and rookies Katy Magill (Boxford, Mass.) and Grace Close (Fox Point, Wis.).
Individually, Krieg placed fourth in the 3000 (10:18.23), first-year runner Kaitlynn Saldanha (Scarborough, Maine) was fifth in the 800 (2:19.01), while senior Jennifer Currie (Milton, Vt.) finished fifth with a toss of 47’1” in the 20-pound weight throw.
On the men’s side at Tufts, senior Ian O’Reilly (Meriden, N.H.) finished fourth in the 800 with a time of 1:56.27.
• Indoor track competes at N.E.’s
• Up next: 2/29 @ Open New England’s (Boston Univ.)
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