2008 Woodie Awards
Panthers ride Mules in season opening win
Perencevich '06, Bergofsky '06 and Renehan '06 notch hat tricks in Maine
Sarah Luehrman
Issue date: 3/16/06 Section: Sports
The Panthers are off to a roaring start with last weekend's 18-11 road victory over Colby. The team played a tight and competitive game, never allowing Colby to surpass them. "Although we had some lapses," commented captain Emily Erickson '06, "we were really able to pull it together and work things out on both the offensive and the defensive ends." After maintaining a tie at 5-5, a pair of unassisted goals from attacker Liza Humes '07 "sparked the offense," according to Erickson, and pulled the Panthers permanently into the lead with three and a half minutes remaining in the first half. Captain Elizabeth Renehan '06 netted one more goal 12 seconds before the buzzer to end the period at 8-5.
The opening goal of the second half came from attacker Schuyler Winstead '06 off what Assistant Coach Melissa Hopkins called "a classic Winstead move," scoring on a lefty bounce from inside the 8m arc shot through the goalie's legs. Riding their momentum, Middlebury outscored Colby 5-1 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, with four more from Claire Edelen '07, Channing Weymouth '06, Alison Perencevich '06 and Kim Walker '07. Though Colby's offense would fight back a few times, the Panthers' decisive lead remained throughout as they employed a wide range of offensive plays. Persistent attacker Michele Bergofsky '06 scored on the third of three shots in a row, getting each rebound and pressuring the goalie until she got through. Defensive midfielder Reid Berrien '08 and Renehan each tallied in the last five minutes to end the game 18-11.
"We've been working hard in practice on our zone defense, our transition and some settled offensive plays," said Erickson, "and the game gave us an opportunity to try it all out against a competitive and aggressive team." The Panthers, no less aggressive, out-shot the Mules 38-23. In addition, Middlebury was able to showcase the depth of their offense, with 10 different players scoring during the game. Leading the offense were Winstead with two goals and three assists, Bergofsky with three goals and one assist, and Perencevich and Renehan with three goals apiece. Also of note was rookie Blair Bowie '09 with a very successful Middlebury debut in goal, playing 57 minutes and making 11 saves.
The opening goal of the second half came from attacker Schuyler Winstead '06 off what Assistant Coach Melissa Hopkins called "a classic Winstead move," scoring on a lefty bounce from inside the 8m arc shot through the goalie's legs. Riding their momentum, Middlebury outscored Colby 5-1 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, with four more from Claire Edelen '07, Channing Weymouth '06, Alison Perencevich '06 and Kim Walker '07. Though Colby's offense would fight back a few times, the Panthers' decisive lead remained throughout as they employed a wide range of offensive plays. Persistent attacker Michele Bergofsky '06 scored on the third of three shots in a row, getting each rebound and pressuring the goalie until she got through. Defensive midfielder Reid Berrien '08 and Renehan each tallied in the last five minutes to end the game 18-11.
"We've been working hard in practice on our zone defense, our transition and some settled offensive plays," said Erickson, "and the game gave us an opportunity to try it all out against a competitive and aggressive team." The Panthers, no less aggressive, out-shot the Mules 38-23. In addition, Middlebury was able to showcase the depth of their offense, with 10 different players scoring during the game. Leading the offense were Winstead with two goals and three assists, Bergofsky with three goals and one assist, and Perencevich and Renehan with three goals apiece. Also of note was rookie Blair Bowie '09 with a very successful Middlebury debut in goal, playing 57 minutes and making 11 saves.