For Release: November 5, 2007
MEN’S SOCCER WINS NESCAC TITLE – TO HOST NCAA’S
The Middlebury College men’s soccer team won its second NESCAC Championship and its first since the inaugural tourney in ’00 as the Panthers defeated Amherst, 1-0. The victory avenges a mid-season 3-1 loss to Amherst, as the Panthers improve to 14-2-1. Middlebury earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will host a second-round game on Saturday.
The win is the 14th of the season for the team, a new school record. The Panthers have also earned a school-record 12 shutouts this season.
In the 16th minute, the first great scoring opportunity of the game presented itself in Amherst’s favor. Ian Rothkopf chipped a ball to Nick Lynch at the corner of the 18-yard box. Lynch brought the ball down with a crafty touch, and hit a screaming shot low, just outside the far post for a goal kick.
Middlebury almost broke the scoreless tie with eight minutes remaining until halftime when junior Corey Moffat (Berkeley, Calif.) poked a loose ball on frame. The shot beat Amherst goaltender Jeff Grover, but not the frame as it hit the far post, before flying across the goal and off the near post for a Jeff defender to clear. At halftime, Amherst held a 7-5 edge in shots, while each side had put just three shots on goal.
Middlebury looked fresh after halftime, and had the first four shots of the second half. Despite playing a double overtime match just 24 hours earlier, the Panthers were seemingly unfazed by fatigue.
The Panthers struck first in the 60th minute when junior Casey Ftorek (Wolfeboro, N.H.) knocked home his own rebound after an Amherst defender stopped his initial try on the goal line. The goal was his team-leading 12th of the season.
Trailing by a score, Amherst changed formations to push numbers forward into the Middlebury box. The Jeffs created a number of scoring chances with the more offensively minded line-up, but with 10 minutes showing in regulation, Middlebury still held the lead.
Amherst continued pressure, but was unable to find the equalizer, as junior Brian Bush (Madison, Wis.) made five saves in goal. The Jeffs were shutout for the first time in 2007, while Middlebury earned its 12th shutout in 17 games this fall
Middlebury advanced to the NESCAC Championship game after a 1-1 tie with Williams at Amherst, advancing 3-0 in a shootout.
The first half was an impressive defensive battle, which saw Middlebury hold a 7-0 edge in shots, but come up scoreless at the break.
Despite being out-shot by a lopsided margin in the first frame, Williams jumped out of the gate firing on all cylinders in the second stanza. Williams put heavy pressure on the Panther defense, and broke through in the 55th minute on a cross from the right wing. With a pair of Eph strikers breathing down his neck, Middlebury couldn’t avoid clearing the ball into his own net.
Middlebury refused to go away and found the equalizer in the 67th minute when sophomore Andrew Banadda (Gaithersburg, Md.) slotted a through pass with the outside of his foot into space for sophomore Stephen Hart (Park City, Utah) to run on. In a foot race against Eph keeper, Andrew Graham, Hart arrived first, and calmly flicked the ball on frame. A pair of Williams defenders couldn’t catch up with the slow roller before it crossed the line and knotted the game up at 1-1.
From that point on, the defenses took over and the game was destined for extra time. Despite playing two overtimes, neither side found the net again until penalty kicks.
Ftorek set the tone for the shootout with the first shot converted to the upper-left corner. Williams’ Nathan Elwood rang the Ephs’ first shot off the crossbar.
Middlebury followed suit with a pair of scores in the second and third rounds of penalties, while Bush stopped consecutive shots from Williams to seal the win.
• Men’s soccer record: 14-2-1
• Up next: 11/10 vs. Wheaton/Bridgewater St. – 1:00
FIELD HOCKEY FALLS IN NESCAC TITLE GAME
TO HOST NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME
The Panther field hockey team saw its hopes of a NESCAC Championship fall short as they fell at Bowdoin 3-1 on Sunday in the title game. The Polar Bears claim their third-straight NESCAC Championship and fourth overall, improving to 16-0 on the season. With the victory, Bowdoin received the NESCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Ninth-ranked Middlebury (13-4) will host UMaine-Farmington in a first-round game on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to The College of N.J. regional.
In a rematch of the 2006 match, it was Middlebury who earned the best early chance of the 2007 final. Just two minutes into the contest, Reid Berrien (Westport, Conn.) collected a loose ball behind the Bowdoin defense and broke in alone on keeper Emileigh Mercer. Mercer made a pad save to keep the game scoreless.
The Polar Bears would break the deadlock in the eighth minute, as Kate Gormley played a cross into the circle from the left wing. Lindsay McNamara redirected the ball to the waiting stick of Hillary Hoffman on the far post, who slammed it home for a 1-0 Bowdoin lead.
The Polar Bears made a bid to improve their lead shortly after halftime, as a McNamara shot slipped between the legs of Middlebury’s junior keeper Caitlin Pentifallo (River Edge, N.J.). Senior Katherine Entwisle (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) made a diving defensive save, swiping the ball off the goal line to keep it a one-goal deficit.
Inspired by the defensive effort, Middlebury made their best offensive push of the day in the 43rd minute with a flurry of shots. Senior Marnie Rowe (Harwich, Mass.) ripped off a pair of quick shots on the doorstep, both of which were kicked away by Mercer.
Bowdoin replied with a push in the other direction, and found the back of the cage in the 56th minute courtesy of McNamara. Julia King took a strike from the top of the circle that was tipped by Bowdoin's leading scorer in front, sailing inside the right post to give Bowdoin a 2-0 advantage.
Middlebury answered less than four minutes later, as junior Taryn Petrelli (Harrison, N.Y.) took control of the ball at the top of the circle, moved to her left and backhanded a chance that skipped between the leg pads of Mercer with 21 minutes remaining.
Bowdoin replied with a quick goal just four minutes later, as a long ball by King was again tipped in front by McNamara, who tucked it inside the left post for a much-needed insurance tally. In addition, with two assists on the day, King raised her single-season total to 19, also a Bowdoin school mark.
Mercer finished with six saves in the game, while Pentifallo ended with nine. Bowdoin held a 20-7 advantage in shots and 12-4 edge in penalty corners.
Berrien scored the game-winning goal just 42 seconds into overtime, lifting the Panthers to a 4-3 victory over Tufts in a NESCAC Field Hockey semifinal game at Bowdoin College.
In the rainy and windy conditions at Howard Ryan Field, the Panthers were the first team to find the net in Saturday's high-scoring affair.
Berrien got things going for Middlebury, centering a pass to sophomore Mullery Doar (Winnetka, Ill.), who one-timed a chance into the cage 16:37 into the game.
Middlebury held the lead until late in the period, when Michelle Kelly tipped home a shot by Margi Scholtes to deadlock the contest just 2:01 before intermission.
The Jumbos grabbed the lead briefly after halftime, as Kelly notched her second goal, a tipped effort in front of the goal to give Tufts a 2-1 advantage at 38:43.
Middlebury evened the score under four minutes later, as first-year player Chase Delano (Greenwich, Conn.) connected on a high shot from the right side of the circle at 42:02. Berrien pushed the Panthers ahead with 6:31 remaining, as she collected a loose ball in the circle and ripped a low shot inside the right post to make it 3-2 Middlebury.
Tufts would tie the game again with 4:15 left when Amanda Russo finished off a scrum in front of the cage to send the contest into overtime.
With open space on the field in the extra session, first-year player Allison Grant (Louisville, Ky.) streaked down the left sideline early in the overtime period. Drawing both a Tufts defender and goaltender out of position, she centered a pass to Berrien, who connected with a diving effort that sailed into the net unabated to give Middlebury the victory.
Katie Hyder made two saves in net for Tufts, who out-shot Middlebury 12-7 and out-cornered the Panthers 12-4. Pentifallo stopped four shots in goal for the Panthers, who avenge an early-season loss to the Jumbos.
• Field hockey record: 13-4
• Up next: 11/7 vs. UMaine-Farmington – 1:00, if win: 11/10-11 @ TCNJ Regional
FOOTBALL CLINCHES SHARE OF NESCAC TITLE WITH WIN OVER HAMILTON
The Middlebury College football team guaranteed itself at least a share of the NESCAC title with a 28-0 shutout over Hamilton (2-5) on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The shutout is the third of the season and the fifth for the Panthers in their last nine games. Middlebury wraps up its season next Saturday at Tufts and can win the league out-right with a victory. Hamilton ends its year when they host Bates on Saturday.
Hamilton drove to the Middlebury 21 on its first possession, only to have a 38-yard field goal attempt by George Taylor blocked by sophomore Bill Greven (Winston-Salem, N.C.). The Continental offense struggled early, with four interceptions, two punts and a missed field goal on its first seven possessions.
Middlebury took the lead late in the first quarter after a 14-play, 81-yard scoring drive. Quarterback Donald McKillop (Poway, Calif.) rushed for 26 yards on the drive, sophomore Eric Rostad (York, Maine) gained 25, while first-year back Gary Cooper (Scottsdale, Ariz.) ran for six, including a two-yard touchdown run with 1:02 on the clock.
Hamilton’s Dan Hood threw one of his five interceptions midway through the second quarter, leaving Middlebury the ball on the Hamilton 27 after the pick by senior Nathan Shreve (Elkins, W. Va.). Three plays later, McKillop hooked up with Rostad for a 31-yard scoring strike to make it a 14-0 game.
The game was a little sloppy early in the third quarter with three turnovers on the first four possessions. Midway through the quarter, Middlebury junior Tyler Owens (Essex Junction, Vt.) blocked a punt that was returned 21 yards by senior linebacker Erik Woodring (Cos Cob, Conn.) to the Hamilton six. Two plays later, McKillop hit junior Andrew Matson (Coventry, R.I.) for a 22-yard touchdown on a third and goal play from the 22-yard line. The score was the seventh touchdown connection between the duo this season.
Hamilton was looking to answer on its next drive, but an interception by senior Alex Buggy (Stamford, Conn.) at the Middlebury 25 put an end to the drive.
Leading 21-0 in the fourth quarter, the Panthers took over the ball on their own 48 after a failed fourth down conversion by Hamilton. Middlebury took 5:26 off the clock as they earned a commanding 28-0 lead with 6:22 remaining. First-year player Andrew Plumley (Burlington, Vt.) rushed for 31 yards on the drive, while senior running back David Randolph (Madison, Conn.) earned the touchdown with a three-yard rush.
McKillop ended the day 14 of 27 for 170 yards with a pair of touchdowns and an interception, while rushing for 33 yards. Randolph rushed for 39 yards and caught four passes, while Matson had three receptions for 40 yards. Woodring and senior Nathan Clancy (Elmhurst, Ill.) each had 10 tackles for Middlebury, while junior Brian Marcks (Glastonbury, Conn.) and senior Brian Young (W. Bloomfield, Mich.) had seven apiece. Young had two interceptions on the day, while sophomore Robert Norberg (Walpole, Mass.) had a pair of sacks.
• Football record: 6-1
• Up next: 11/10 @ Tufts – 12:30
WOMEN’S SOCCER FALLS IN NESCAC SEMI’S
The Panther women’s soccer team saw its season come to an end with a 4-1 loss at Williams in the NESCAC semifinals. The Panthers end their season at 9-5-2, while the Ephs will play Bowdoin in the title game on Sunday at noon.
Brianna Wolfson and Gabrielle Woodson each scored two goals en route to the victory for Williams, while Middlebury’s senior Caitlin Parker (Seattle, Wash.) notched the lone goal for the Panthers.
At the 5:38 mark, Wolfson scored the first of her two goals. After diverting a Panther defender and causing Middlebury’s keeper to come out of net, Wolfson kicked a line drive shot to the far right post past the charging keeper to give the Ephs the early lead.
Less than twenty minutes later Wolfson tallied her second goal off a cross from Sara Wild. Wild crossed the ball from the right side of the field to Wolfson who, playing the ball off a bounce, laced a hard ground ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Williams set the pace early in the second half as well, tallying their third goal just three minutes into the second period. Woodson scored the first of her two goals off a breakaway. Woodson and Wolfson notched the Ephs final goal on a give-and-go play.
Middlebury broke up the shutout with five minutes left to play. Parker kicked a perfectly placed line drive from outside the penalty box that landed in the upper right corner to make the final score to 4-1.
Ephs keeper Lauren Sinnenberg gave up only her third goal of the entire season and recorded four saves. Middlebury first-year keeper Lauryn Torch (Bronxville, N.Y.) notched four saves on the day.
• Women’s soccer final record: 9-5-2
CROSS COUNTRY RACE COMPETES AT ECAC’S
The Middlebury College cross country teams raced at the ECAC Championships hosted by Williams on Saturday. Middlebury rested its top six runners on both sides, but still turned in impressive performances. The women placed third in the 31-team race, while the men came in seventh among 37 squads.
First-year racer Kaitlyn Saldanha (Scarborough, Maine) led the Middlebury women in eighth place with a time of 23:30. Placing 20th was senior Sarah Norton (Denver, Colo.) in 23:55, followed by senior Anna Chavis (Rockville, Md.) in 23rd (24:03), senior Ellie Buechner (Newport, R.I.) in 25th (24:05) and first-year racer Jessica Spar (Short Hills, N.J.) in 29th place (24:13).
Leading the men was sophomore Peter Hoffman (Rochester, Minn.), who finished 23rd overall with a time of 27:23. Placing 32nd in the race was first-year racer Jack Terrett (Sherborn, Mass.) (27:33), followed by junior Max Mackinnon (Norwich, Vt.) (27:46) in 45th, rookie Nat Nelson (Concord, N.H.) in 46th (27:47) and sophomore Victor Guevara (Short Hills, N.J.) in 49th place (27:52).
• Cross country teams compete at NESCAC Championship
• Up next: 11/10 @ NCAA Regional (Conn. College)
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON COMES TO AN END
The Panther women’s volleyball team saw its season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to Williams in the NESCAC quarterfinals at Amherst. The Ephs won the match by scores of 30-24, 30-20 and 30-21.
Middlebury senior Lindsay Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) led the Panther attack with 10 kills, while sophomore Natalie DuPre (Louisville, Ky.), senior Lexie Fisher (San Francisco, Calif.) and junior Reisa Bloch (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) had 21, 13 and 11 digs, respectively, with Fisher adding five block assists. First-year Lauren Barrett (Medfield, Mass.) had 10 digs to go along with her 28 assists.
• Women’s volleyball final record: 15-14
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