The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 2/17/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Julia Randall Senior Levi Doria looks to evade the oncoming defenseman during this weekend´s conference clashes at Kenyon. [Click to enlarge]

The battle between the past two NESCAC champions and finalists was no less exciting than expected. However, the roles this time were reversed. Middlebury came into the game as the underdog on Saturday, as they sat tied for second in the NESCAC standings, while Trinity came in as the favorite sitting atop the NESCAC rankings. The teams battled to a 4-4 tie as Middlebury came roaring back from three goals down to tie it late in the third. The tie clinched Trinity it's first regular season NESCAC title.

The game looked as if it was all but over. However, after Trinity took a 3-0 lead, discipline problems took hold of the Bantams, allowing the Panthers to climb back into the game.

"I thought we had the game under control until we took a dumb penalty compounded with another penalty," said Trinity head coach John Dunham.

Bantam's leading scorer Cameron Finch who appeared to argue with the referees about Middlebury intentionally knocking off their net while Trinity was threatening took Trinity's dumb penalty at 10:20 of the second period.

Only 48 seconds later Trinity defenseman Andris Kozlovskis was called for cross-checking giving the Panthers the break they needed. Trinity leads the league in penalty minutes per game with 23.75. On the ensuing 5 on 3 first-year Tom Maldonado slid the puck over to fellow first-year Mickey Gilchrist who fired a shot right under the crossbar on Doug Kisielius' to cut Trinity's lead to 3-1.

"I don't think I have a very good shot, so I'm always looking for someone, and usually that someone is Mickey," said Maldonado

Just 1:16 later on the power play Maldonado was at it again, drawing two players at the left point before dishing the puck to Brian Phinney '05. Phinney fired a shot that was deflected in front by Gilchrist getting the Panthers within one. Neither the Panthers nor Maldonado was done yet. With 2:56 remaining Maldonado came streaking down the left wing before he fed a perfect backhand pass to Jocko DeCarolis '07 who buried his third goal of the season.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools