2025 Fall sports previews

Women’s Field Hockey

Head Coach: Katharine DeLorenzo

Athletes to Watch: Grace Keefe ’26, Thea Rosenzweig ’26, Georgianne Defeo ’26 

The Middlebury women’s field hockey team enters the 2025 season after winning a league-record seventh straight NESCAC championship. Head coach Katharine DeLorenzo, who ranks third in career wins among active Division III coaches, has led the Panthers through an unprecedented stretch of dominance. Over the last seven years, the team has gone 146–7 and earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Coaching Staff of the Year honors every season. However, this fall brings new challenges. Last year, the Panthers graduated their only three first team All-Americans. They will turn to their seniors, including defense stalwart Grace Keefe ’26, goaltender Thea Rosenzweig ’26, and NFHCA First-Team All-Region Georgianne Defeo ’26. Their bid for an eighth consecutive title sets the stage for one of the fall season’s central storylines.

Key Competitions: Wesleyan (Home– Oct. 12), Tufts (Home– Oct.18), Williams (Away– Oct.28)

Men’s Football

Head Coach: Doug Mandigo ’96

Athletes to Watch: Brian Moran ’26, Connor McClellan ’28, Mike Ahonen ’26

In last year’s preview, the Campus stressed that Middlebury’s football team would need to find a leader under center in order to repeat 2024’s NESCAC championship. They did, turning to now-senior Brian Moran ’26. He led the team to a 6-3 finish, averaging 220 yards per game through the air and throwing for 16 touchdowns. The Panthers also look to balance out their offense with standout running back Connor McClellan ’28. McClellan ranked third in the NESCAC in rushing scores with seven last season, and will be counted on to continue racking up yards for the Panthers to successfully execute a two-pronged offense. 

Key Competitions: Wesleyan University (Away– Sep. 13), Bowdoin College (Home– Sep. 20), Tufts University (Home– Nov. 8)

Women’s Volleyball

Head Coach: Sarah Raunecker 

Athletes to Watch: Molly Harrison ’26, Campbell Keller ’26, Ava Tuccio ’26

Twenty fourth-ranked Middlebury Women’s Volleyball returns to the court after last year’s upset over top-seeded Colby, claiming the program’s sixth NESCAC title. The team reached the NCAA regional finals for the first time in 14 years as well. While the Panthers graduated star setter Gabbie O’Toole ’25, six of the seven starters return. Freshman Molly Macdonald ’29 steps into the seventh spot, joining a formidable cast that includes NESCAC Player of the Year Molly Harrison ’27, and standout seniors Campbell Keller ’26 and Ava Tuccio ’26. Head coach Sarah Raunecker is at the helm for her 31st season, touting a career 518-279 record. She’s joined on staff by assistant coach Brian Dunlop and student coach Spencer Ralph ’28.5. Rauckener is eager to see the group come together, but they cannot take long: the Panthers open a slew of NESCAC matchups on Sept. 19, beginning with Connecticut College.  

Key Competitions: Williams (Away– Sep. 27), Colby College (Home– Oct.11), Wesleyan (Away– Oct.18) 

Men’s Tennis

Head Coach: Andrew Thomson ’10 

Athletes to Watch: Julian Wu ’26, Noah Lewis ’27, Hugh Hentschel ’26

The Middlebury men's tennis team enters the season determined to build on last year's NESCAC championship win and a bittersweet NCAA tournament run that ended in the Round of 16 with a loss to Johns Hopkins. The Panthers welcomed four first years to help fill the void left by graduated stars Noah Laber ’25 and Neel Epstein ’25. While the roster faces some temporary changes with players Thehan Wijemanne ’27 and Nikky Kondamuri ’27 studying abroad, the team remains optimistic about the squad’s depth and potential. The fall season serves primarily as preparation for the spring campaign, with individual development taking precedence over team results. The Panthers’ immediate focus is qualifying as many players as possible for the ITA Cup — the individual national championships. 

Key Competitions: Middlebury Panther Challenge (Home– September 20-21), ITA Regional Championships (Home– Sep.26)

Women’s Tennis

Head Coach: Olivia Leavitt

Athletes to Watch: Elsie Van Wieren ’28, Ren Barton ’29, Diya Pachamuthu ’29

The Middlebury women’s tennis team captured the program’s first-ever NESCAC championship win and advanced to the NCAA regional final last season, where they fell to Johns Hopkins. Head coach Olivia Leavitt, in her second season, has added assistant coach Sam Concannon from Washington and Lee University after the departure of Aaron Diamond. After several years of changes in the coaching staff, the team has seemed to find stability and success with coach Leavitt. Despite losing four seniors — including NCAA Individual Championship runners-up Nina Farhat ’25 and Sahana Raman ’25 — the Panthers remain optimistic with a close-knit nine-player squad that includes two new first-years. With no returning doubles teams and a new lineup, Middlebury faces the challenge of maintaining championship expectations against rivals like Wesleyan, Bowdoin, and Tufts, while also developing team chemistry through an experimental fall season. 

Key Competitions: Middlebury Panther Challenge (Home– Sep.12-14), ITA Regional Championships (Home– Sep.26)

Men’s Soccer

Head Coach: Alex Elias ’08

Athletes to Watch: Pablo Gonzalez ’27, Colin Dugan ’27, Will Sawin ’27

The Middlebury men's soccer team begins their season facing significant roster turnover. The squad lost 10 seniors, including star center back Luke Madden ’25 who earned NESCAC Player of the Year honors last season. However, Madden hasn't gone far, joining the staff as an assistant coach. Stepping into Madden's central defensive role is Pablo Gonzalez ’27, a transfer from the University of Connecticut who brings notable experience to the backline. Other key players include midfielder Colin Dugan ’27 and forward Will Sawin ’27. To replace the departed seniors, the Panthers have added nine first-years and one sophomore walk-on. Head coach Alex Elias ’08, beginning his seventh season leading the team and 12th overall year with the program, has set ambitious goals. The team hopes to build on last season's NCAA tournament appearance and advance beyond the semifinal round, where they fell to Amherst for the second consecutive year. This season also brings a new leadership approach, with the coaching staff selecting team leaders from each class year to ensure all players feel represented in team decision-making. 

Key Competitions: Amherst (Home– Sep. 20), Connecticut College (Away– Sep.27), Tufts (Home– Oct.18)

Women’s Soccer

Head Coach: Peter Kim

Athletes to Watch: Roshann Purcell ’26, Gigi Day ’27, Tessa Broderick ’28

Middlebury women’s soccer coach Peter Kim is entering his 22nd year with a markedly different roster compared to last year’s. Having graduated 15 players and returning only three seniors, the team brought on 14 first-year players. Regardless, the Panthers passed an early test of chemistry in their season-opener, securing a comfortable 7-0 win over Plymouth State. One key to the team’s success this season will be stable defense; Roshann Purcell ’26 and Tessa Broderick ’28 made significant contributions to a defense that conceded only nine goals last year, the second lowest tally in the NESCAC. In the midfield the Panthers can turn to Gigi Day ’27, a proven scorer and assist-maker. Overall, the team will look to compete with a consistent lineup rather than adjusting to the competition. Standout performances from an exciting first year class, some of whom have already made a big impact on the field, will also be crucial for the team’s success this fall. 

Key Competitions: Amherst (Home– Sep. 20), Bates (Home– Oct. 25), Williams (Away– Oct. 28)

Men’s Golf

Head Coach: Justin Kumpulanian

Athletes to Watch: Julian Galindo Macias ’27, Charlie Schulman ’26, Brendan O’Holleran ’26

Following the departure of key seniors Bradshaw Underhill ’25, Henry Harrison ’25, and Brendan Maykel ’25, men’s golf will turn to a strong senior class, while also looking to develop the underclassmen. Though the spring proved to be tough sledding for the Panthers, Charlie Schulman ’26 shone through during the Dr. Tim Brown Invitational to deliver Middlebury a 4th place finish. Schulman and Julian Galindo Macias ’27, who had a gritty T14 finish in the fall Williams Invitational, must pace this team and set a strong tone for the underclassmen to avoid another middling season for the Panthers. 

Key Competitions: Duke Nelson Invitational (Home– Sep. 13-14), Williams Fall Invitational (Away– Sep. 20-21), Ekwanok Sap Bucket Challenge (Home– Oct. 14)

Women’s Golf

Head Coach: Tim Walko

Athletes to Watch: Morgan Lee ’26, Ella Han ’27, Elizabeth Whalen ’28

The women’s golf team returns to the course on the heels of a historic spring season after achieving a program-first NESCAC Championship title and a record sixth place finish at the NCAA Championships. At the NESCAC tournament, the team rallied from behind to win by five strokes — one of the closest margins of victory in the competition’s history. Between Audrey Tir ’25, Ella Han ’27, and Morgan Lee ’26, the team finished with three golfers within the top 10. At the national tournament the same trio impressed, each shooting four rounds in the 70s on the par 72 course. Lee received All-NESCAC First Team and Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-Region honors, while Han earned an All-NESCAC Second Team spot. In only his second season in charge, coach Tim Walko was also named NESCAC Coach of the Year. Finally, it will be key for Whalen to build on a successful first year as the team looks to continue their strong run of form this fall, especially without Tir. 

Key Competitions: George Phinney Classic (Home– Sep. 20-21), Williams Fall Invitational (Away– Sep. 27-28), Polar Bear Shootout (Away– Oct. 4-5)

Men’s Cross Country

Head Coach: Nicole Wilkerson

Athletes to Watch: Benjamin Hughes ’27, Shef West ’26, Harry Griff ’26

Having finished third at both the NESCAC Championship and NCAA Mideast Regional meets, along with making a 14th-straight NCAA Nationals appearance, the men’s cross country team enters the season looking to bring a successful formula to the next level. Benjamin Hughes ’27 is the leading returner for the team, having earned All-Region and All-NESCAC First Team honors last season. Captains Harry Griff ’26 and Shef West ’26 will provide crucial support at the front, bringing valuable experience as seasoned championship runners. Further, a new change to the NCAA’s process of qualifying for the national meet allows teams to earn their bid one race earlier in the season. As a result, the Panthers will aim to be sharp earlier than usual, dialing it up by their third race of the season at St. Lawrence University.

Key Competitions: Connecticut College Invitational (Away– Oct. 18), NESCAC Championship (Away– Nov. 1), NCAA Mideast Regional Championship (Away– Nov. 15)

Women’s Cross Country 

Head Coach: Nicole Wilkerson

Athletes to Watch: Audrey MacLean ’27, Victoria Fawcett ’26, Shea Fajen ’28

The women’s cross country team began the season with a statement performance over the weekend, sweeping the first 14 places at their opening meet. Building on last fall’s fourth place at the NESCAC Championship and fifth place at the NCAA Mideast Regional meet, the team returns five of their seven varsity runners from the NCAA race, providing experience up front.  The Panthers can also count on a few promising of the first year runners to be in the mix. MacLean ’27 finished last season as an NCAA All-American and secured Middlebury’s first individual NESCAC Championship title in eight years. Shea Fajen ’28 will also play a crucial role at the front, returning from a strong first year season. With new NCAA qualification standards presenting new challenges this season, they will turn to the leadership of team Captain Victoria Fawcett ’26 as the pressure mounts for earning a spot at the national meet.  

Key Competitions: Connecticut College Invitational (Away– Oct. 18), NESCAC Championship (Away– Nov. 1), NCAA Mideast Regional Championship (Away– Nov. 15)