For Release: March 31, 2008

MEN’S LACROSSE REMAINS UNDEFEATED

The seventh-ranked Middlebury men’s lacrosse team outscored Washington and Lee 11-3 over the final two quarters for a 15-10 victory over the Generals on Tuesday evening at the W&L Turf Field.

Neither team could pull away until W&L (4-4) used a four-goal run that included two goals each for Will Englehart and Harry St. John for a 7-4 lead at the break.

Middlebury (5-0) began its second half barrage just 17 seconds into the third quarter as sophomore Pete Smith (Wilton, Conn.) found rope off an assist from senior Jim Cabrera (Old Greenwich, Conn.). The Panthers scored two more goals over the next 2:02 to knot the game at 7-7, but W&L attackman Ned Rider scored off an Englehart feed to give the Generals the lead back, 8-7, at the 10:39 mark of the third period.

A goal by junior Mike Stone (Boston, Mass.) knotted the score at 8-8, but Rider gave the Generals the lead again at 9-8 with 5:10 left in the third quarter. However, the Panthers scored to tie it at 9-9 just 1:27 later, the first of seven goals over the final 18:43 that lifted them to the win.

Englehart and St. John led the Generals with three goals and one assist each, while Rider had two goals and one helper. Connor Locke played all 60 minutes in goal and recorded 10 saves.

Stone paced the Panthers with five goals and one assist, while Smith had one goal and four assists. Cabrera totaled two goals and one assist, while junior Skyler Hopkins (Easton, Md.) and sophomore Chris Teves (Wellesley, Mass.) added two goals apiece. Junior Peter Britt (Summit, N.J.) stopped eight shots between the pipes.

Middlebury went on a 5-0 run in the second half, breaking open a six-all tie against Colby en route to a 13-7 victory at Kohn Field on Saturday afternoon. In a battle of two previously unbeaten teams, the seventh-ranked Panthers improve to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in NESCAC action, while the Mules drop to 5-1 and 2-1 in conference play.

The Panthers built an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter with goals by Hopkins and sophomore Matt Virtue (Rye, N.Y.) before the Mules knotted the score with goals by Mark Squicciarino and Caddy Brooks later in the quarter. After a Middlebury goal by junior Matt Ferrer (Darien, Conn.) gave the Panthers their second lead of the game at 3-2, Colby answered with three goals, including another by Brooks with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter and the only goals of the second for a 5-3 advantage heading into halftime.

Middlebury retook the lead in the third quarter on a three-goal spurt, highlighted by a pair of tallies by Cabrera, including the go-ahead goal at the 9:27 mark. The Mules tied the game at six-all on a man-up score by Drew Piekarski with 2:47 remaining.

The decisive five-goal run by the Panthers began just over a minute later as Hopkins led a fast break and fed a cutting Jeff Begin (Ipswich, Mass.) for the score at the 1:35 mark in the third. Just 20 seconds later, Hopkins cut across the cage and slipped one past Colby goalie Alex Farmer for an 8-6 lead. Hopkins set up Smith’s man-up goal at the 12:25 in the fourth, before senior Frank Granara (Norwell, Mass.) and Stone scored for an 11-6 advantage with 10:23 remaining in the game.

Squicciarino’s driving goal, set up by a pair of nice screens, stopped the Middlebury run with 7:05 on the clock, but a pair of goals by junior Tom Petty (Newburyport, Conn.) later in the fourth built the Panther lead back to 13-7.

Hopkins led the Panthers with two goals and three assists, as Stone collected a pair of goals and two assists, while Petty and Cabrera each netted two goals. Brooks scored two goals and assisted on another for the Mules, while Squicciarino scored a pair and Whit McCarthy scored one and got two assists. Britt made seven saves and allowed seven goals for Middlebury, as Farmer stopped 10 shots and made 13 saves for Colby.
• Men’s lacrosse record: 6-0
• Up next: 4/2 vs. Williams – 4:30, 4/5 @ Amherst

WOMEN’S LACROSSE HAS A THREE-GAME WEEK

The Middlebury College women’s lacrosse team suffered its first loss of the season as the third-ranked Panthers suffered a 14-8 loss at #8 Washington & Lee. The Panthers struck early in the first half scoring the first two goals before the Generals answered back with two of their own to tie the contest, 2-2, at 22:19. Middlebury first-year player Chase Delano (Greenwich, Conn.) slipped one passed goalkeeper Sarah Tilbor at 11:24 to put them back on top, but W&L added two more markers, taking a 4-3 lead into the break.

W&L (9-1) began the second period with four-straight scores, capped off by a free-position goal from Kat Michaels at 22:44 to give W&L an 8-3 edge. Delano tallied two of the Panthers' ensuing three goals, tightening the contest to 9-6 with 15:33. Yet, Middlebury could not get any closer as the Generals picked up their first-ever victory over the Panthers.

Christine Bender amassed a career-high five goals for W&L, while Britten Mathews had three goals and two assists, and Colleen Evans tallied three goals. Tilbor denied 13 would-be goals in goal for W&L.

Middlebury (3-1) was paced by Delano’s four goals, while sophomore Dana Heritage (Cheshire, Conn.) notched two goals. Junior Blair Bowie (Washington, D.C.) played the majority of the contest in goal, tallying five saves and allowing 12 goals.

Middlebury dropped its second straight game as the #3 Panthers fell 19-17 in overtime at #4 Gettysburg. The second straight loss suffered by the Panthers marks the first time it has happened since the end of the '90 season. The Bullets improve to 10-0 overall this season, matching its second-best start in program history, and picked up its first win against Middlebury (3-2) in four tries. Last season, the Panthers notched the final goal in regulation and scored the only goal in the overtime period to pick up a 12-11 decision over the Bullets at Clark Field.

Thursday’s contest had all the makings of another overtime affair as each team took turns lighting the scoreboard. Middlebury broke the egg 1:14 into the game as senior Katherine Entwisle (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) tallied an unassisted goal. That would be the visitor’s only lead of the opening period as Gettysburg fired right back with three unanswered scores by Moore, Browning, and Ceglarski to take a 3-1 lead at 27:21.

The Panthers clawed back to tie the game at seven on a goal by Heritage at 6:07, but the hosts came right back with three scores to gain their largest advantage of the day at 10-7. Following an Amanda Smith goal at 1:16, Browning tossed in her fourth goal of the opening half on a free-position attempt with 41 seconds left to up the margin back to three. Middlebury had the last score of the half, as senior Mimi Schatz (Baltimore, Md.) notched an unassisted score with 12 seconds remaining to cut the margin to 11-9 at the break.

In the second half, the Panthers quickly tied the game 5:18 into the period, but Gettysburg regained the advantage just 21 seconds later on a goal by Stahl. That began a back-and-forth second-half battle between the clubs which saw ties at 12-12 (22:14) and 13-13 (14:59). The Bullets finally looked to be taking the upper hand by gaining a two-goal lead (15-13) with 8:43 remaining in regulation, but once again Middlebury found a way to knot the score with goals by Schatz and Entwisle.

The Panthers took their second lead of the game with 2:36 on the clock as Entwisle tossed in her fifth goal in as many tries. Needing a stop and a score in the final two minutes, Gettysburg managed both, causing a turnover and converting it into a goal as Ceglarski found Stahl at 1:12 for what turned out to be the final score of regulation.

With a six-minute stop-clock overtime in effect, the Bullets jumped on the board first with 2:45 gone by when Stahl drew a foul inside the eight-meter arc and promptly converted the free position attempt. Gettysburg tacked on anther goal in the extra session when Browning found Jamie Giffuni with 1:58 remaining, giving the hosts a two-goal advantage (18-16).

Gettysburg wasn’t quite out of the clear as Middlebury raced down the field and Schatz scored on a free position attempt with 1:01 left. Needing a stop in the waning seconds, the Panthers sent their goalie out to press the Bullet attack and the hosts made them pay as Browning drew a foul in the arc and tossed the ball to Stahl on the subsequent free position attempt for an easy score with just six seconds remaining.

Ceglarski ended the day with three goals and two assists, while Moore tallied two goals and three helpers for Gettysburg. Middlebury was led by Schatz and Entwisle, who each scored seven points. Schatz netted six goals and an assist, while Entwisle posted five goals on five shots with a pair of helpers. Bowie made nine saves and scooped up seven ground balls.

Schatz had three goals and three assists as third-ranked Middlebury opened up a 9-4 halftime lead on the way to a 17-11 victory over 13th-ranked Colby in NESCAC Saturday at Bill Alfond Field. Middlebury improves to 4-2 overall and 4-0 in the NESCAC, while the Mules fall to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in league play.

The Mules led 1-0 and 2-1 before the Panthers ran off seven straight goals in the opening half on the way to a 9-4 lead at the break. Colby got to within 12-9 after Heather Nickerson tallied with 16:35 left in the game. However, the Panthers scored the next four goals to pull away.

Delano had four goals, first-year player Sally Ryan (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) finished with three goals and one assist, and Entwisle also had three goals for Middlebury.
• Women’s lacrosse record: 4-2
• Up next: 4/2 @ Williams, 4/5 vs. Amherst – 1:00

WOMEN’S TENNIS WINS THREE OF FOUR IN CALIFORNIA

The Middlebury College women’s tennis team won three of four contests played during their annual trip to California for spring break. The Panthers opened with an 8-1 win over Claremont-McKenna, before falling by a score of 7-2 to Azusa Pacific. Middlebury came back with an 8-1 win over M.I.T., before rounding out the week with a 6-3 victory over Pomona-Pitzer.

Two Panthers earned perfect 3-0 records on the trip in singles play, as senior Amy Berkman (Shelburne, Vt.) and junior Elizabeth Emery (McLean, Va.) accomplished the feat. Juniors Clare Burke (Summit, N.J.) and Chandra Kurien (Fairfield, Conn.) earned 3-1 marks, as did sophomore Jamie Haar (Alpine, N.J.). In doubles play, Emery and senior Claire Smyser (Houston, Texas) along with Kurien/Burke each earned 3-1 records.

For complete match summaries, see: http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/sports/womens/tennis/2007-2008/news/news_633425599104324632.htm
• Women’s tennis record: 7-1
• Up next: 4/5 @ Wellesley

MEN’S TENNIS RETURNS FROM CALIFORNIA

The Middlebury College men’s tennis team played six matches over its spring break trip to California, earning a 3-3 mark on the west coast.

The Panthers opened with an 8-1 win over Pomona-Pitzer, before falling 7-2 to Azusa Pacific. Middlebury was then defeated 6-3 by Claremont-McKenna and 8-1 by UC-Santa Cruz before bouncing back with a 7-2 win over Pacific Lutheran. The Panthers rounded out the trip with a 6-3 victory over Redlands.

Earning a perfect 5-0 record in singles play over the week was first-year player Rich Bonfiglio (Bronxville, N.Y.). Senior Filip Marinkovic (Toronto, Ont.) and sophomore Peter Odell (Scarsdale, N.Y.) both earned 3-2 marks. Sophomores Andrew Lee (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Andrew Thomson (W. Bloomfield, Mich.), along with first-year player Andrew Peters (Baltimore, Md.) each went 2-2, while sophomore Chris Mason (Owings Mills, Md.) was 2-0.

In doubles play, Marinkovic and Thomson paced the group, earning a 2-2 mark on the week.

For complete match summaries, see: http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/sports/mens/tennis/2007-2008/news/news_633425592325618016.htm
• Men’s tennis record: 7-3
• Up next: 4/2 vs. Hamilton – 4:00, 4/5 @ Conn. College – 1:00

SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON

The Panther softball team opened up its season in Florida with 10 games over the spring break. In the season-opener against Rivier, Middlebury’s opponent scored six runs in the last two innings to break-up a scoreless tie, on its way to a 6-0 win. Senior Katelyn Cannella (Pleasantville, N.Y.) had a single, while senior Brittany Burke (Medfield, Mass.) doubled for the Panthers.

Southern Maine scored seven times in the first inning against Middlebury, only to have the Panthers plate 13 runs over the first three innings to take a lead they would not relinquish. Sophomore Kristin Maletsky (Kinnelon, N.J.) had a homer and four RBI for Middlebury in the game, while first-year player Leslie Crawford (Mount Vernon, Wash.) went 2-2 with two runs and two driven in. Rookies Emily Burbridge (E. Greenwich, R.I.) and Kelsey Chisholm (Lynnfield, Mass.) each had a pair of hits, while Megan Margel (Ridgewood, N.J.) drove in three. First-year pitcher Ali McAnaney (Northbrook, Ill.) earned the win.

Middlebury scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a 16-15 win over Potsdam. Maletsky homered again, driving in four with two runs scored. Chisholm went 3-4 with three RBI, while L. Crawford was 3-3 with three runs scored. Margel drove in three runs, going 2-4 at the dish. Burke picked up the win in relief for the Panthers.

M.I.T. scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on its way to a 5-3 victory over Middlebury. Cannella went 2-4 in the game, first-year player Geena Constantin (Pelham, N.H.) was 2-3, while L. Crawford went 2-2.

The Panthers scored six times in the bottom of the sixth to pick up a 9-2 win over Oberlin. Cannella was 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while McAnaney went 2-4 with two RBI and a triple, while also earning the complete game win with six strikeouts.

Union had a 10-run fourth inning as they picked up a 14-7 win over Middlebury. Maletsky hit her third homer of the trip, while Carlie Crawford (Mount Vernon, Wash.) went 4-4. L. Crawford was 2-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Margel had a 2-4 game.

Middlebury bounced back with a 12-2 win over Fredonia, pounding out 19 hits in the victory. Junior Amelia Magistrali (Torrington, Conn.) homered for Middlebury, going 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. C. Crawford was 3-3 with two runs scored, while senior Allison Bard (Jenkintown, Pa.) went 3-5 with two driven in and two runs scored. C. Crawford picked up the win, tossing six innings.

Middlebury’s bats struggled against Wisconsin-Whitewater, as they were handed a 9-1 loss. Margel went 2-3 in the game to lead the Panther hitters.

Middlebury ended the trip with a two-game split with Colby. In game one, the Mules allowed just two hits (Chisholm & McAnaney) as they picked up the victory. In the second contest, the Panthers struck for seven runs in the first two innings on their way to a 10-9 win. Bard plated Margel (2-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs) with a single to center to win it for the Panthers in extra innings. McAnaney, Bard, Maletsky and rookie Nellie Wood (Hampden, Maine) each had two hits in the game, as Burke picked up the win in relief.

C. Crawford leads the team with a .471 average through 10 games, followed by Canella (.357), Chisholm (.355), Margel (.333) and L. Crawford (.333).

The NESCAC series at Amherst over the weekend was postponed.
• Softball record: 5-5
• Up next: 4/2 @ Skidmore (2), 4/6 @ Amherst (2)

TRACK & FIELD COMPETES IN SAN DIEGO

The Middlebury College track and field teams opened the season with their annual spring break trip to San Diego. The Panthers competed in two meets in California, both taking place at Pt. Loma University.

Middlebury enjoyed quite a bit of success in the opening meet, with two women winning events. First-year athlete Sophia Spring (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.) was a victor in the 1500 (4:48.91), while classmate Hannah Meier (Charlotte, Vt.) captured the 5000 (18:27.99). Junior Jen Katz (Winchester, Mass.) placed second in the 100 (13.06) and fourth in the 200 (26.66), while senior Jennifer Currie (Milton, Vt.) turned in a third place finish with a toss of 132’4” in the hammer. Junior Alexandra Krieg (Wellesley, Mass.) placed second for Middlebury in the 1500 (4:50.14), while rookie Grace Close (Fox Point, Wis.) came in fourth in the 400 (1:01.66). Also placing fourth for the women were senior Elise McNiff (Gloucester, Mass.) in the javelin (104’), juniors Emily Jacobs (Greene, Maine) in the 5000 (18:52.78) and Emer Feighery (Westborough, Mass.) in the pole vault (9’8”) and first-year athlete Christina Kunycky (Marlborough, Mass.) in the 800 (2:23.01).

On the men’s side, senior Jimmy Butcher (Garden City, N.J.) turned in the top performance, placing second in the 5000 (15:06.59). First-year athlete Nicholas Plugis (Bedford, Mass.) came in sixth in the javelin (156’11”), senior Ian O’Reilly (Meriden, N.H.) was seventh in the 800 (1:57.05), while rookie Adam Dede (West Chester, Ohio) placed seventh in the pole vault (13’1.5”).

The following Saturday, the Panthers were in action again with several teams competing at Pt. Loma. Meier finished second in the 5000 (18:27.24), sophomore Laura Dalton (Simsbury, Conn.) came in third in the 400 hurdles (1:05.31), while junior Kelley Coughlan (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) finished third in the triple jump (34’7”). Jacobs finished fourth in the 5000 (18:39.32), sophomore Anjuli Demers (Dracut, Mass.) did the same in the 400 (59.44), while Spring (1500-4:50.64) and Currie (hammer-134’5”0) each finished sixth.

O’Reilly paced the men with a third place finish in the 800 (1:56.40), while sophomore Robby Athan (Wayland, Mass.) placed ninth in the long jump (20’3.5”).
• Track& Field opens spring season
• Up next: 4/5 – Middlebury Invitational – 12:00

BASEBALL RETURNS FROM ARIZONA

The Panther baseball team opened its spring season with a trip to Chandler, Arizona. The Panthers played six contests before battling Williams in a three-game NESCAC west series.

In the season-opener, Gustavus Adolphus scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to squeak out an 8-7 win over the Panthers. Middlebury showed signs of not having played outside, committing nine errors in the game and allowing just two earned runs. Senior John Lanahan (Jacksonville, Fla.) went 4-4 in the game with two RBI, while senior Gabe Broughton (Barrington, R.I.) went 3-5.

Gustavus struck for four runs in the top of the seventh in game two, earning a 7-5 victory. Sophomore Alex Blair (Salem, Mass.) went 2-2 in the loss for Middlebury, while Broughton doubled.

Elmhurst scored five in the bottom of the seventh to earn a 12-11 come-from-behind victory. Lanahan went 3-4 with three RBI, while senior Nick Lefeber (Branford, Conn.) was 3-3 with four runs scored. First-year player Donald McKillop (Poway, Calif.) homered in the game, while junior Mark Shimrock (Lansdale, Pa.) drove in three with a triple.

The Panthers dropped their fourth straight as Elmhurst scored in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 6-5 win. Shimrock went 4-4 with two runs scored and a triple, while sophomore Danny Seymour (Weston, Conn.) had a pair of hits.

Middlebury picked up its first win of the season as they pounded out 20 hits on their way to a 17-5 win over Oberlin. First-year hurler Nick Angstman (Williston, Vt.) earned the win over five plus innings of work. Broughton went 4-7 with two doubles, while Shimrock was 3-5 with a homer and three RBI. Lanahan doubled twice and drove in three, while Seymour went 2-4 with a home run.

The Panthers made it two straight as they scored seven runs through the middle innings on their way to a 10-4 win over M.I.T. Senior Christian Hansen (Laramie, Wyo.) earned the win, allowing two runs over six innings on the hill. Lanahan went 3-5, while Lefeber and junior Peter Bourdon (Simsbury, Conn.) each had a pair of hits.

In game one against Williams, the Ephs scored six times in the sixth inning to pick up a 10-4 victory. Broughton went 3-5 with a triple in the game to lead the Middlebury hitters.

Williams scored in each of the first five innings of game two, earning an 8-3 victory. Lanahan had a double in the game, while Shimrock went 2-4.

In the final game of the series and the spring trip, Middlebury mounted a late-game comeback, but it wasn’t enough, as the Panthers fell 11-10 to the Ephs. Seymour went 3-6 with two doubles, while McKillop doubled three times. Bourdon also earned three hits in the game, while Lanahan and sophomore Erich Enns (Lansdale, Pa.) each had a pair.

Bourdon leads the team in hitting after nine games with a .529 average, followed by Lanahan (.500), Shimrock (.444), Lefeber (.429) and Seymour (.385). First-year pitcher Scooter Scott (Marlboro, Vt.) has a 0.90 ERA over 10 innings of work with four strikeouts.
• Baseball record: 2-7
• Up next: 4/2 @ S. Vermont (tentative), 4/4 @ Wesleyan, 4/5 @ Wesleyan (2)

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