For Release: September 24, 2007
FOOTBALL TEAM OPENS WITH A WIN
The Middlebury College football team won its season-opener for the second consecutive year as they picked up a 24-10 win at Wesleyan. Senior David Randolph (Madison, Conn.) rushed for 105 yards with a touchdown as the Panthers out-gained the Cardinals 229-75 on the ground.
You couldn’t ask for a better start to the season for Middlebury as sophomore James Millard (Greenwich, Conn.) took the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game.
Following a pair of punts, each team would turn the ball over on two of its next three possessions, but neither were able to capitalize.
Leading 7-0 after a quarter, the Panthers put together a 14-play, 74-yard drive that elapsed 5:38. The drive ended with a 22-yard field goal by senior Jack Britton (Carmel, Calif.), an All-NESCAC baseball player who was making his collegiate debut on the gridiron
Wesleyan answered on their ensuing possession, after a 32-yard kickoff return by Drew Dominguez set-up the drive. Five plays and 56 yards later, Zach Librizzi hit Kevin Leamy for a 22-yard scoring strike to cut the lead to 10-7.
A 16-yard punt return by Millard put the Panthers on the Cardinals’ 45 to start another scoring drive. Rookie quarterback Donald McKillop (Poway, Calif.) found four different receivers on the drive and rushed for 20 yards, including a 10-yard scoring scamper to give Middlebury a 17-7 lead.
Wesleyan would cap a short (44 yards), but time consuming (6:30) drive with 30 seconds left in the half as Chris Helsel booted a 29-yard field goal to make it a 17-10 game at the intermission.
Middlebury gained some breathing room in the third quarter as they put together an impressive 17-play, 96-yard drive that took 7:51 off the clock. The drive began at their own four after a punt was downed by the Cardinals. Rookie Gary Cooper (Scottsdale, Ariz.) rushed five times for 25 yards on a drive that was capped off when Randolph took the ball from McKillop as he was going down and scored form the one yard line.
Wesleyan had another chance early in the fourth quarter, after an interception gave them the ball on the Middlebury 36 late in the third. The Cardinals drove to the Panther one-yard line, before turning the ball over on a fumble in the end zone.
Middlebury was able to hold down the Wesleyan offense for the remainder of the quarter and come away with the 24-10 win.
Randolph earned his 105 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown for Middlebury, while Cooper ended the day with 67 yards on a dozen carries. McKillop completed 13 of 26 passes in his debut, for 124 yards with a pair of interceptions and 18 yards rushing. Junior tight end Charles Holm (Longmeadow, Mass.) caught a team-high three passes for 18 yards on the afternoon.
Senior Erik Woodring (Cos Cob, Conn.) led the Middlebury defense with 10 tackles, followed by senior Brian Young (W. Bloomfield, Mich.) and senior Alex Buggy (Stamford, Conn.) with eight apiece.
• Football record: 1-0
• Up next: 9/29 vs. Colby – 1:00
MEN’S SOCCER REMAINS UNBEATEN
First-year player Carson Cornbrooks (Williston, Vt.) scored his first career goal and it proved to be the game-winner as Middlebury men’s soccer team remained undefeated and unscored upon on the season with a 2-0 blanking of Wesleyan. Junior Brian Bush (Madison, Wis.) needed to make just three saves to post his fourth shutout of the season (he has 14 stops on the year). One of his saves in the first half came on a penalty kick by Wesleyan's Justin Mello.
Cornbrooks' goal came as he headed in a corner kick by junior Casey Ftorek (Wolfeboro, N.H.) in the 33rd minute. Sophomore Stephen Hart (Park City, Utah) added the insurance marker in the 64th minute with the assist going to sophomore Andrew Banadda (Gaithersburg, Md.). Middlebury has opened the campaign with four straight shutouts for the first time since 2003 when the Panthers began the year with five shutouts in a row.
• Men’s soccer record: 4-0
• Up next: 9/25 vs. Colby-Sawyer – 4:30, 9/29 vs. Colby – 12:00
MEN’S GOLF COMPETES AT WILLIAMS
The Middlebury College men’s golf team turned in an impressive result at the Williams Invitational, placing fourth in the 19-team event. The Panthers shot a two-day total of 614, with Skidmore winning the event with an impressive 590.
Leading the Panthers on the weekend was junior Harrison Bane (Marblehead, Mass.), who shot a two-day total of 152. Just one stroke behind was senior George Baumann (Mequon, Wis.), followed by first-year player Brian Cady (Rye, N.Y.) and senior Jeff Patterson (Old Saybrook, Conn.), who both shot 156. Sophomore Eric Elderbrock (Madison, Wis.) rounded out the Middlebury golfers with a 174.
• Men’s golf fourth at Williams Invitational
• Up next: 9/29-30 @ NESCAC Qualifier (Hamilton)
WOMEN’S SOCCER WINS TWO
The Panther women’s soccer team won a pair of games last week, including a conference road win. The week began as sophomore Margaret Owen’s (Bozeman, Mont.) first half goal was the difference as Middlebury shutout Keene State 1-0 in non-conference women’s soccer action at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.
The Owls were held to just one shot on goal in the game, while the Panthers finished the game with 10 shots. The Owls missed an opportunity to get on the board five minutes into the game, but Kendra Spencer’s direct kick from just outside the box clanged off the cross bar.
Sophomore Lindsay Walker (Ridgewood, N.J.) had a couple of scoring chances for the Panthers. Walker’s header was saved by Owl goalie Samantha Hirsh and her follow up shot just went wide of the far post.
The lone goal of the game came at the 16:42 mark of the first half when Owen floated a long shot from 40-yards out that went just under the cross bar and over the outstretched hands of Hirsh.
Walker had a chance to extend Middlebury’s lead midway in the second half, but her shot from the right side hit off the cross bar. Senior Carly Berger (Princeton, N.J.) sent the rebound over the net.
Hirsh stopped nine shots for Keene, while junior Adele Plunkett (Austin, Texas) and first-year player Lauren Torch (Bronxville, N.Y.) each played a half in goal for Middlebury. Plunkett had one save.
At Wesleyan, Middlebury scored the deciding goal in the 73rd minute as sophomore Nora Tomlinson-Weintraub (Burlingame, Calif.) received a through ball from junior Ashley Pfaff (Charlotte, Vt.) and scored from 20 yards out, breaking a 1-1 tie. It was her team-leading third goal of the year.
Wesleyan had evened the count on the second goal of the season by Kaitlin Ashley, that coming in the 56th minute. Middlebury had taken the lead off a corner kick in the 24th minute when junior Zoe Victor (Seattle, Wash.) connected off the serve by Owen.
Middlebury enjoyed a 13-5 edge in shots and had three corner kicks to none by Wesleyan. Wesleyan has not beaten Middlebury since 1994, with an 0-11-2 mark since then. The overall record stands 17-3-3 in Middlebury's favor.
• Women’s soccer record: 3-1-1
• Up next: 9/26 vs. Worcester – 4:00, 9/29 vs. Colby – 11:00, 9/30 vs. Bowdoin – 12:00
CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS RACE AT WILLIAMS
The Middlebury cross country teams were in action once again on Saturday as they took part in the Purple Valley Classic hosted by Williams. The Panther men placed fourth of 11 teams, while the women were fourth in a four-team event.
Senior Jimmy Butcher (Garden City, N.Y.) led the Middlebury men with a ninth place finish in the 132-man race, finishing with a time of 26:12. Sophomore Mike Waters (Bedford, Mass.) was next for Middlebury in 24th place with a time of 27:11, followed by first-year racer Stanis Moody-Roberts (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) in 32nd (27:34). Placing 35th for the men was junior Jack Wambach (Evanston, Ill.) in 27:42, followed by junior Rainey Johnson (St. Louis, Mo.) in 37th place (27:50).
Junior Alexandra Krieg (Wellesley, Mass.) paced the Panther women, finishing the race in third place with a time of 22:14. First-year racer Hannah Meier (Charlotte, Vt.) was next for Middlebury placing 14th in 23:27, followed by rookie Jessica Spar (Short Hills, N.J.) in 18th (23:40). Rounding out the top five were first-year racer Amanda Lee (Lincoln, Neb.) in 29th (24:05) and classmate Kaitlynn Saldanha (Scarborough, Maine) in 30th (24:06).
• Cross country teams compete at Williams
• Up next: 9/29 @ State Meet (Lyndon State)
FIELD HOCKEY HAS PICKS UP TWO WINS
Middlebury held a 4-1 lead and scored the game’s final three goals to pick up a convincing 7-2 win over Skidmore on Kohn Field. The Panthers entered the game ranked ninth in the latest Division III national poll, while the Thoroughbreds were 17th.
Senior Reid Berrien (Westport, Conn.) scored the first of her game-high three goals at the 27:10 mark as she took a feed from sophomore Heather McCormack (Rowley, Mass.) and scored from the middle. Sophomore Sarah Bryan (Houston, Texas) scored on a rebound before Shaila Delea put Skidmore on the board at 18:17 after a scramble in front. McCormack made it a 3-1 game at the break as she scored from a tough angle driving to the goal.
Berrien scored with a blast from the outside just 55 seconds into the second half, with Chelsea Lisaius answering for Skidmore. Berrien netted her third goal at the 24:28 mark to give the Panthers a 5-2 lead. Berrien made a nice feed to sophomore Madeline Macmillan (Milton, Mass.) for Middlebury’s sixth goal, while senior Marnie Rowe (Harwich, Mass.) wrapped up the scoring with 6:06 remaining.
Berrien ended the day with three goals and two assists, McCormack had a goal and two assists, while Rowe had a goal and an assist. Junior keeper Caitlin Pentifallo (River Edge, N.J.) made a dozen saves in goal to earn the win, while Liz Catinella made eight saves for Skidmore. With Berrien’s eight-point day, she now has 108 career points, boosting her in third place all-time at Middlebury.
Taking advantage of one of its six second-half penalty corners, Middlebury got the game-winning goal from McCormack with 4:22 remaining to pick up a 2-1 win over Wesleyan. The Cardinals got a piece of the ball following the initial play but could not clear. Sophomore Dana Heritage (Cheshire, Conn.) pushed the ball forward to McCormack who continued the ball on its way into the goal on the left side from in close.
Wesleyan had forged a 1-0 halftime lead when Jamie Thabault scored from 10 yards out on the left side off a feed from Nat Galgano. It was her first career goal coming with :52 remaining on the clock.
With much of the second half played in the Wesleyan end of the field, Middlebury applied constant pressure but the Cardinals held the Panthers at bay until the 15:52 mark when Rowe pounced on a rebound, one of Wesleyan goalie Breen McDonald's five saves, and put it home to tie the score at 1-1.
Wesleyan had just three shots in the game as Pentifallo went saveless. The win was the eighth straight for the Panthers over the Cardinals dating back to the 2000 season.
• Field hockey record: 4-1
• Up next: 9/29 vs. Colby – 11:00, 9/30 vs. Bowdoin – 12:00
MEN’S TENNIS HOSTS INVITATIONAL
The Middlebury College men’s tennis team hosted a seven-team invitational over the weekend with four singles flights and two doubles flights. The “A” doubles flight was an all-Middlebury final as senior Filip Marinkovic (Toronto, Ont.) and sophomore Andrew Thomson (W. Bloomfield, Mich.) defeated sophomores Chris Mason (Owings Mills, Md.) and Andrew Lee (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 8-3.
In singles play, Thompson and Lee both advanced to the semifinals of the “A” flight, as did first-year player Mike Malhame (Douglaston, N.Y.) in the “C” flight. Malhame and sophomore Peter Odell (Scarsdale, N.Y.) advanced to the semis in the “B” doubles flight, before being eliminated.
• Men’s tennis hosts Middlebury Invitational
• Up next: 9/28-30 @ ITA Regional (Williams)
WOMEN’S TENNIS COMPETES AT ITA REGIONAL
The Panther women’s tennis squad officially opened up its fall season at the ITA Regional hosted by M.I.T. over the weekend. Seniors Amanda Berck (Roslyn, N.Y.) and Claire Smyser (Houston, Texas) both played well in singles play, advancing to the third round of play.
Berck and Smyser both won a pair of matches, before falling in the round of 16. First-year player Whitney Hanson (Wayne, Pa.) won a match before falling in the second round. In doubles play, Berck/Smyser picked up a pair of wins before falling to the eventual champions.
• Women’s tennis opens fall season
• Up next: 9/29-30 – Host Middlebury Invitational
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL HAS A FIVE-MATCH WEEK
The Middlebury College women’s volleyball team had a busy week with their home-opener, followed by four matches at the Amherst Classic.
The Panthers picked up a 3-0 win over St. Michael's in the team's home-opener in Pepin Gym. Senior Lexie Fisher (San Francisco, Calif.) had 10 kills, senior Lindsay Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) earned nine, while sophomore Whitney Bean (Waukee, Iowa) had seven kills and three blocks. Sophomore Natalie DuPre (Louisville, Ky.) had 12 digs in the match, while first-year player Lauren Barrett (Medfield, Mass.) had nine digs and 32 assists.
In their first match at Amherst, Middlebury picked up a 3-0 win over Johnson & Wales. Junior Josie Keller (York, Pa.) had 11 kills in the win, Patterson and Fisher had nine, while Bean collected eight. Barrett had 43 assists in the win, while DuPre and junior Olivia Minkhorst (Atlanta, Ga.) had eight digs apiece.
Middlebury dropped a tightly contested 3-0 match to Brandeis to end the night. Patterson and Fisher had nine kills apiece to pace the offense. Minkhorst earned 17 digs in the match, DuPre had 15, while Fisher had three blocks.
Play began on Saturday with the Panthers picking up a 3-1 win over Westfield State. Patterson pounded out 18 kills, Bean had a dozen, while Keller earned 11. Barrett dished out 50 assists, while Patterson and DuPre each had 13 digs. Fisher added 5.5 blocks in the win.
Middlebury wrapped up the weekend with a 3-0 loss to the host school. Fisher had eight kills, Minkhorst earned 15 digs, while Barrett had 13.
• Women’s volleyball record: 7-4
• Up next: 9/25 @ Union, 9/27 vs. Norwich – 7:00
WOMEN’S GOLF COMPETES AT MT. HOLYOKE
The Panther women’s golf team finished 12th in the 15-team Mt. Holyoke Invitational over the weekend. First-year player Courtney Mazzei (Larkin Valley, Calif.) paced the team with an eighth place finish, firing a 163. Next for the Panthers was senior Karen Levin (Morton Grove, Ill.) with a 175, followed by first-year player Jessica Bluestein (Tucson, Ariz.), who shot a 179. First-year golfer Elizabeth Hirsch (New City, N.Y.) shot a 191, while senior Alison Graddock (Stowe, Vt.) came in with a 265.
• Women’s golf plays at Mt. Holyoke
• Up next: 10/6 @ Williams
MIDDLEBURY
COLLEGE
SPORTS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB: www.gomidd.com