Women's Hockey Unbeaten in Last Seven

Author: Kate Nerenberg

With three New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) wins, the women's hockey team remained unbeaten in their last seven contests and improved to 11-1-1 on the season. After the successful week, the Panthers moved ahead of Bowdoin in the conference standings and now sit in the number one spot.

On Jan. 17, the Panthers skated away from Colby easily, with a 9-1 win at home. The Panthers wasted no time in lighting up the scoreboard as Amber Neil '03 scored just 20 seconds into the game. The White Mules made a few adjustments but could only keep the Panthers quiet for another six minutes, when Kristin Reid '04 found the back of the net at the 6:13 mark. Jen Yerigan '06 added a third goal in the second period, but it was not until the third period that the Panthers really exploded.

In the last 20 minutes of the game, Middlebury was unstoppable, scoring six goals. Once again, Neil scored at the 20-second mark, setting off a flurry of Panther goals. Just seven seconds later, Angela Kapus '03 notched the fifth Middlebury goal and Reid registered her second of the night only 40 seconds later. Colby could not hold off the Panthers as they scored just one minute later and twice more in the period. Netminder Kati Madouras ended the game with 10 saves.

The nationally second-ranked Bowdoin Polar Bears traveled to fourth-ranked Middlebury the next day for a NESCAC showdown. At the time, the teams were tied for first place in the conference standings. The Polar Bears jumped to a 1-0 lead early, finding an opening at the 5:28 mark of the first period. The contest turned into a defensive test for Bowdoin, however, as Middlebury's offense was relentless. The Panthers outshot Bowdoin, 40-17. Finally, with 1:22 remaining in the second period, Hannah Delong '06 was able to take advantage of a power play with a pass from Emily Quizon '06, finding the back of the net and tying the score. Despite Middlebury's overpowering offense, it was never able to connect, even in the overtime period.

"It was really frustrating to have that big of a shot advantage and not win the game," commented Jackie Cohen '05. "We had the puck down at their end for a lot of the game. This game helped us gauge where we are as a team right now and what we have to do to improve."

The Panthers used the lessons they learned in the Bowdoin game as they took on another pair of NESCAC foes the next weekend, starting with Amherst on Saturday. Although it took them awhile to warm up, once they got started, the Panthers completely dominated the game. Lorna Gifis '05 started Middlebury off with a goal at the 8:37 mark and Kapus did not even wait 30 seconds before putting the Panthers up 2-0. With two more goals in the first period and three goals in the second period, the Lord Jeffs never had a chance. Middlebury's defense worked hard, not allowing any shots on goal in the second period and only 10 for the whole game. The Panthers walked away with an 8-1 win.

The Panthers ended their four-game NESCAC stretch against a feisty Hamilton squad the next day. The Continentals converted first, at 6:08 in the first period. Although Middlebury responded two minutes later, they were never able to gain momentum like in the Amherst game. Delong put the Panthers up 2-1 with five minutes remaining in the first period. Hamilton would not go away without a fight, however, scoring at the 18:10 mark to tie the score. Before the session was over, Erin Neil '03 put the Panthers on top for good off a Reid assist. The Panthers used the second period to build their lead, scoring three goals to Hamilton's one. Erin Neil sealed the 7-3 victory in the last session with a goal at the 7:33 mark. Madouras registered seven saves on the afternoon.

The Panthers will look to improve even more on their record as they take on a slew of non-conference opponents this coming weekend. Middlebury will be wary of Manhattanville, who proved to be the Panthers' only regular-season loss last season, a 4-1 beating midway through the season. With a home-rink advantage, the Panthers will be loking to avenge this loss.