Field Hockey To Host NCAA Regional
November 5, 2012
The Middlebury College field hockey team will make its 10th consecutive and 13th overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament when they host a regional on Kohn Field this weekend. Middlebury will take on Skidmore Saturday, November 10th at 11:00 a.m., while DePauw battles Utica at 2:00 p.m. The winners meet on Sunday, November 11th in the Regional Final at 1:00 p.m. with a trip to the final four on the line. Tickets are priced at $5 for adults and $3 for students each day, and will be available at the gate.
The Panthers enter the weekend with an overall record of 24-12 in NCAA Tournament play. The Panthers won the NCAA title in ’98, finishing with a 17-1 mark, while advancing to the finals in ’03, ’04, ’07 and ‘11. Middlebury is currently the top-ranked team in the nation with a perfect 17-0 record.
Middlebury earned its way into the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid after winning its second NESCAC Championship with a 3-2 shootout win over Bowdoin. The Panthers have dominated much of their competition in ’12, outscoring their opponents 92-13. Middlebury leads the nation in scoring average (5.27), scoring margin (+4.58) and winning percentage (100%). They also average more goals/game (5.41), assists/game (4.29) and points/game (15.12) than any other team in Division III. The defense has been steady as well, ranking third nationally with just .69 goals allowed/contest, going 614:32 without allowing a goal this season. Head coach Katharine DeLorenzo is now in her 13th year as the team’s head coach, owning a record of 175-45 (.795) at Middlebury entering the weekend. She was recently named the NESCAC Coach of the Year.
Two-time NESCAC Player of the Year Lauren Greer leads the Panther offense. The former NESCAC rookie of the year, Greer is the NCAA’s all-time leader in points/game with 3.53. She is also tied for fourth in goals (107) and is fifth in points (258) to go along with her 44 assists in 73 career games. Greer is a four-time All-NESCAC selection, earning first-team honors in each of the last three seasons. The two-time All-American currently leads the nation with 2.0 goals and 4.76 points/game in ’12. The senior has tallied 34 goals in 17 games, to go along with 13 assists for 81 points this season.
Katherine Theiss has enjoyed a break-out junior season after scoring one goal in 13 games a year ago. The junior is second on the team with 17 goals and 39 points to go along with her five assists. She is second only to Greer in the NESCAC with 2.29 points/game and 1.0 assists/contest. Theiss has five multiple-goal games this season, including three in wins over MIT and Hamilton.
First-team All-NESCAC selection Catherine Fowler leads the team, the NESCAC and is eighth in the nation with .88 assists/game this season. She is third on the team in points (37), while owning 15 assists and 11 goals (4th). The sophomore set a new Middlebury record with four assists in a win over Keene State on October 9th, while earning an assist in nine straight games in October.
Two-time first-team All-NESCAC selection Charlotte Gardiner is Middlebury’s best transition midfielder. An All-American last season, earned assists in five straight games during the regular season, including a pair in an October 6th victory over Hamilton. She has played in 73 games at Middlebury, earning 17 goals and 29 assists for 63 points.
Junior Elinore O’Brien is a top defensive midfielder, with junior Meredith Rowe anchoring the defense, which will be without All-American Margaret Souther, who was lost to injury for the season during the NESCAC semifinals.
2012 NCAA Field Hockey Regional
Saturday, November 10th – Middlebury College
Skidmore (14-5) vs. Middlebury (17-0) – 11:00 a.m.
Utica (15-5) vs. DePauw (19-1) – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 11th – Middlebury College
Regional Final – 1:00 p.m.
