Lacrosse suffers loss in OT thriller

Middlebury dropped a road game to Babson College on April Fool’s Day, finishing just two goals behind in a 15-13 score. Senior co-Captain Dana Heritage ’10 ended the game with four goals and one assist, while first-year Michaela Colbert ’13 and sophomore Steph Gill ’12 each added three goals.

However, the impressive scoring efforts by some of the Panthers proved insufficient to best the Babson Beavers, who gained momentum and held possession for most of the second-half.

On Saturday, eighth-ranked Middlebury took the field again to take on the seventh-ranked Colby Mules at home on Kohn Field. In recent years, Middlebury has developed an intense rivalry with Colby.

In the last five meetings between the two teams, Colby has come out on top four times. Last year, however, Middlebury had the chance to avenge a NESCAC semifinal loss to Colby in the NCAA Regional Final and pulled away with the win.

Though Middlebury’s Sally Ryan ’11 struck first, putting Middlebury ahead 1-0, Colby appeared to control the first half. The Mules scored four straight goals to arrive at halftime with a 4-2 lead.

“We got off to a slow start,” said junior Chase Delano ’11, who was responsible for Middlebury’s other goal in the first half. “Colby came on strong right away and we realized we were going to have to pick it up if we wanted to compete.”

Colby appeared to be in control of the second half as well, scoring three goals to Middlebury’s one to take a 7-3 lead with under 25 minutes remaining. However, Middlebury rallied and generated a four-goal run to tie the game at seven.

Ryan set the streak in motion, tallying twice. Delano followed suit, converting a free position with a bounce shot to beat Colby’s Sarah Warnke in net. First-year Michaela Colbert ’13 notched the tying goal at 19:40.

Colby took an unnerving two-goal lead with just over three minutes to go, but Middlebury responded once again. Delano netted another free position shot to bring the Panthers within one goal of the Mules.

With under two minutes remaining, Colbert won control of the draw and scored another tying goal with just 1:19 left in regulation. Colby had control of the ball in the final moments of the game, but Middlebury prevented them from having any good scoring chances.

“We picked up our game at a crucial point in the game,” said Delano. “The offense really came together to generate and convert good scoring chances. We put our best effort out there to take it into overtime.”

The overtime consisted of two three-minute periods. Colby struck first, ending the first overtime period with a 1-0 lead. First-year Margaret Souther answered for the Panthers in the second overtime period, bringing the score to a 1-1 tie. However, Colby’s Amy Campell scored her fifth of the game and second of the overtime to give Colby a 2-1 lead with just 24 seconds remaining in the overtime.

Juniors Delano and Ryan paced the Panthers with three goals apiece, with first-years Colbert and Souther following close behind with two each. First-year Heather Marrison ’13 added a notable four ground balls and caused two turnovers. Lily Nguyen ’12 turned in another great performance for Middlebury, finishing with nine saves in goal.

With the loss, the Panthers fell to 4-3 overall on the season, and 2-2 in the NESCAC.

Middlebury will take the field next in an away game against NESCAC competitor Bowdoin College. The Panthers will face the Polar Bears at 12:00 PM on April 10.