The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Sixiao Huo First-year defender Nina Daugherty fights for control of the puck against a Wesleyan opponent [Click to enlarge]

The face of Middlebury women's hockey has been a strong presence both on the ice and in the press during the past 10 days. Continuing with a strong record, the women Panther's hockey team continues into the season with a 17-1-1 track record. While the team experienced their first loss of the season against Plattsburgh on Jan. 26, both their players and their team remain strong as they go into the rest of their NESCAC season. After being faced with their first loss, the girls made a quick turn around in their play - as displayed in their exemplary wins against Connecticut, Amherst, Wesleyan and Trinity.

The week of the 26th was a rough one, as the girls faced number three Plattsburg in New York State. Going into the second period with a 1-0 advantage over Plattsburgh, the Panthers were faced with a goal by their opponent early in the second. Plattsburgh only gained momentum as the third period's time wore out - netting two more goals and advancing their lead to 3-1. Tension built as one of Middlebury's top scorers, Lorna Gifis '05 found the back of the goal for the second time in the long evening. But however strong the effort was on the Panther's side, the Plattsburgh women increased their tally in the fourth period to 4-2 and fended off their Middlebury opponent until the game's end.

However disheartening the loss was to the Middlebury women's team, as fans we wouldn't have been able to tell as they led their school to a 9-0 win over the Connecticut Camels on Jan. 28. The Panthers' opponent showed little defense to Middlebury's strong forward attack - and Middlebury's team members used this opportune moments to rack up a high score.

It is evident within the amount of individual scorers that the team remains reliant on the effort of the group as a whole. Six Middlebury women scored throughout the night. While Gifis was relentless in her attack - scoring four goals for the Panthers - five of her teammates also displayed strong play. Middlebury student-athletes Shannon Tarrant '07, Gillian Paul '08, Emily Quizon '05 and Alison Graddock '07 all managed one goal a-piece. Karen Levin '08 and Shannon Sylvester '07 both remained strong in their attack, donating three assists each to the team's impressive score.

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