Middlebury Returns With Win Over Babson

December 31, 2005

Middlebury scored three first period goals and never looked back as they picked up a 6-1 win over Babson in the Middlebury College Holiday Classic Tournament in the Kenyon Arena. The Panthers advance to take on Amherst, a 3-2 winner over Southern Maine, in the championship game at 4:00 p.m. on New Years Day. Babson meets S. Maine in the consolation game at 1:00 p.m.

Middlebury jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of power play goals in the game's first 3:54. Ian Drummond struck first, nine seconds into a power play from the right point, while Tom Maldonado scored on a similar shot from the center of the zone just eight seconds into a power play to make it a 2-0 game. The Panthers took a 3-0 lead at 9:50 as Drummond won a face-off back to Scott Bartlett, who snapped home a shot from the top of the left face-off circle.

Darwin Hunt gave the Panthers a 4-0 lead at 4:39 of the second period as he scored in transition with a nice pass from Jeff Smith. Hunt struck again at 12:37 as he converted a breakaway to increase the lead to 5-0. Jamie McKenna scored for Middlebury at 10:54 before Greg Cassista broke up the shutout with a snapper to the top right corner with 1:13 left to play.

Doug Raeder was stellar in net for Middlebury, making 27 saves on the night, while his counterpart, Craig Weiner, was impressive with 24 stops.

Date: December 31, 2005 - 4:10 p.m

Venue: Kenyon Arena - Site: Middlebury, Vt.

TEAM 1 2 3 OT F

Babson (4-4) 0 0 1 - 1

Middlebury (7-0-1) 3 2 1 - 6

SCORING

M-1^st (2:03) - PP: Ian Drummond (Richie Fuld)

M-1^st (3:54) - PP: Tom Maldonado (Robert MacIntyre)

M-1^st (9:50) - Scott Bartlett (Drummond)

M-2^nd (4:39) - Darwin Hunt (Jeff Smith)

M-2^nd (12:37) - Hunt (Eric LaFreniere)

M-3^rd (10:54) - Jamie McKenna (Mickey Gilchrist, Evgeny Saidachev)

B-3^rd (18:47) - PP: Greg Cassista (John Geverd, Brad Baldelli)

GOALTENDING (saves)

Doug Raeder-M (60 min., 27 saves, 1 GA)

Craig Weiner-B (60 min., 24 saves, 6 GA)