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(03/07/19 11:00am)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team wrapped up their year this weekend, placing second in the NESCAC tournament and missing out on an NCAA tournament bid after an excellent season.
In the semifinals, the 10th-ranked Panthers beat out Hamilton to go to their fifth title game in a row. After a scoreless first period, sophomore Shayla Coates got Middlebury on the board with a redirected shot from senior captain Jenna Marotta for her first collegiate goal. Just over halfway through the period, junior Sidney Portner sent another redirection past the Hamilton goaltender on the powerplay to double the lead. In the third period, first year Jenna Letterie received a breakaway pass from sophomore Madie Leidt and lifted the puck into the net for a short-handed goal. Less than a minute later, Hamilton’s Nancy Loh scored on the powerplay, bringing the score to 3-1. The semifinal win sent Middlebury to seek their fourth consecutive NESCAC crown against first-seeded Williams, who had won the season’s previous two contests 2-1.
The championship game started off with even play in the first period. Middlebury got on the board first as Letterie won an offensive zone faceoff and found Leidt, who fired a shot from the top of the circle past Williams’ goalie Chloe Heiting with just over three minutes remaining. Two minutes later, Williams retaliated with a shot from Brynn Puppe that slipped through traffic and past junior goaltender Lin Han. In the second period, Williams took their first lead of the game with a power play goal just over three minutes in. Halfway through the period, Middlebury took advantage of a 4-on-3 opportunity to even the score. Junior Anna Zumwinkle’s shot hit bodies in front of the net before slipping past Heiting. In the dying minutes of the period, Han came up with a big save on a one-on-one breakaway opportunity for the Ephs, keeping the score 2-2 to start the third period.
Williams broke the tie nine minutes in as Meghan Halloran one-timed a shot inside the post after a cross-ice pass. Head coach Bill Mandigo pulled Han for the extra skater and, with a minute left, Middlebury once again enacted some late-game heroics and appeared to score a game-tying goal. Marotta’s shot from the right point appeared to have crossed the goal line after bouncing around in front of Williams’ net. However, after a lengthy meeting, the officials waved off the goal, cutting off Middlebury’s last chance for overtime by citing the use of a high stick. Williams won its second NESCAC title in program history (previously in 2014) and will go on to the NCAA tournament.
The Panthers finished an excellent season with a record of 16-8-3. Marotta and Leidt were named First-Team All-NESCAC selections - Marotta’s second straight and Leidt’s first after being named Rookie of the Year last season. Though the Panthers will lose a valuable group of four seniors in Marotta, alternate captain Rachael St. Clair, Katherine Jackson and Katarina Shuchuk, a strong group of underclassmen look to continue Middlebury’s legacy of success.
(02/28/19 11:00am)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team was straight fire in a fierce game against Connecticut College on Feb. 23, scoring twice in the final 37 seconds and again in overtime to send themselves to the NESCAC semifinals. After a fast-paced but scoreless first period, the visiting Camels got on the board first, scoring on a power play early in the second period. They scored again just over a minute later to double the deficit for the Panthers. With a minute left in the game, head coach Bill Mandigo pulled junior goalie Lin Han for an extra skater. Senior captain Jenna Marotta sent a wrist shot past the Connecticut College goalie with 36.7 seconds remaining to make the score 2-1. Then, with 16 seconds left on the clock, senior Katherine Jackson took a rebound from junior Sidney Porter’s shot and slammed it home.
“I think we just kept thinking in the back of our minds that we can do this,” Marotta said. “After we got the first goal, we had some momentum going into the last 20 seconds or so. We were just trying to throw the puck at the net and get some traffic in front of the goalie.”
Just over two minutes into the overtime period, a shot by Jackson was deflected by first-year Jenna Letterie and bounced off the Camel goalie, finding sophomore Madie Leidt in front of the net to backhand the rebound in.
“We came into the overtime with a ton of energy, obviously building off the quick two goals to tie the game in the third. Scoring in the first three minutes was surreal,” Marotta said about Leidt’s team-leading 10th goal of the season. Senior alternate captain Rachael St. Clair added, “That was for sure the most rewarding win I’ve been a part of in my athletic career.”
The victory sends Middlebury to meet Hamilton in the NESCAC semifinals, to be held at Williams College on March 2. Although the Panthers have won both matchups against Hamilton this season, the third-ranked Continentals have won six of their past seven games and look to be a tough challenge.
“Hamilton is a good team and very well-coached,” Marotta said. “Our goal is just to stay focused on each and every shift, do the little things and win battles.” St. Clair agreed saying, “One step at a time. This weekend’s win definitely gives us a boost going into Saturday. We are going to use the momentum and play three solid periods.”
(02/21/19 10:53am)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team played a crucial home-and-away series against Williams to close out the NESCAC regular season. Going into the first game, the Panthers and the Ephs were tied for first place and vying for the top seed in the NESCAC tournament. Late into the second period, Williams’ Maghan Halloran sent a shot from the circle past junior goalie Lin Han. With twenty seconds left in the middle frame, however, the Panthers tied it up as first-year Jenna Letterie scored her ninth goal of the season. The Ephs would score a goal midway through the third period, with the game ending 2-1 as Williams goalie Chloe Heiting closed out multiple Panther power plays.
In the regular-season finale, Williams rose above Middlebury again, securing the victory with a heartbreaking overtime goal. The Ephs opened scoring in the first period, slipping the puck through Han’s five hole. In the third period, junior Sidney Porter got the Panthers on the board off an assist from sophomore Ellie Barney. Just under two minutes into the overtime period, Williams’ Avery Dunn found the back of the net from low inside the slot.
The loss secured the second seed for the Panthers in the NESCAC tournament.
A rescheduled game against Plattsburgh State on Tuesday, Feb. 19 was the last game for the Panthers before tournament play begins. The two teams have not met since the NCAA quarterfinal last March, where the Cardinals came out on top. Plattsburgh opened scoring early in the second period, getting the puck past sophomore goalie Anna Goldstein. They scored again with 13 minutes remaining in the third. Junior Anna Zumwinkle buried a goal with five minutes left, cutting the deficit to one. However, Plattsburgh sealed the victory with an empty net goal to end the game 3-1.
Middlebury (9-5-2) begins NESCAC tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 23, when they face seventh-ranked Connecticut College (6-7-3). The Panthers, who have won the past three conference titles, hope to shake off the current four-game losing streak. In this season’s matchups against the Camels, the Panthers have skated to a 3-0 win and a tie.
(02/14/19 10:57am)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team took both games in a doubleheader against the Hamilton Continentals on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25 and 26. The first game ended 4-1 on goals from junior Anna Zumwinkle and sophomore Madie Leidt and a pair of empty -netters by seniors Katherine Jackson and Katarina Shuchuk. Junior goalie Lin Han finished the game with nine saves. In the second game, scoring finally opened in the last minute of the second period as Hamilton slipped the puck past sophomore goalie Anna Goldstein. The Panthers tied it up in the third as first-year Eva Hendrikson fired a slap shot into the back of the net, only for Hamilton to regain the lead 10 minutes later. Sophomore Ellie Barney then scored to tie the game at 2-2. With 35 seconds left, Jackson sealed the come-from-behind victory for Middlebury.
On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1 and 2, Middlebury squared off against Wesleyan in another doubleheader. The first game, a 3-2 victory for the Panthers, saw a power-play goal from Barney and a pair of goals from Leidt, who added a shorthanded tally and the game-winner for her team-leading ninth goal of the season. The second game ended 1-0 as Wesleyan picked up the program’s first win against Middlebury since their initial meeting in the 1978-79 season. Senior captain Jenna Marotta skated in her 100th game, and Goldstein made 15 saves.
On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the Panthers picked up another shutout as they defeated the Norwich Cadets 3-0. Middlebury scored in each of the three periods as Shuchuk netted power-play and even-strength goals, with Jackson adding an empty-net goal with less than a minute remaining. Goaltender Han made 34 saves in her 11th career shutout.
This past weekend saw Middlebury face off against Colby in a NESCAC back-to-back. On Friday, Feb. 8, the Panthers scored a season-high six goals. The first two came in the final minute and a half of the first period from Shuchuk and first-year Ashley McDonald, her first as a Panther. Four goals in the second period sealed the victory for Middlebury as first-years Jenna Letterie and Katie Hargrave, Marotta and Barney all scored. Barney had a four-point night as senior alternate captain Rachael St. Clair skated in her 100th game as a Middlebury Panther. The second game ended in a 1-0 victory for the Mules. Despite a 27-23 shot advantage, Middlebury could not convert, and Sadie Kuhn’s lone goal remained the difference.
Middlebury (14-4-3, 9-3-2) seeks to close out the regular season in the next few games. The eighth-ranked Panthers will square up twice against Williams, finishing up NESCAC play. They then face third-ranked Plattsburgh State on Tuesday, Feb. 19 in the final game of regular play.
(01/24/19 10:58am)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team battled the Bowdoin Polar Bears in a fierce NESCAC double header on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18 and 19. Saturday’s game began with a scoreless first period, though the Panthers had the shot advantage 11-6. In the second period, Middlebury opened scoring with just under five minutes off the clock. Sophomore Ellie Barney tipped a shot from junior defenseman Anna Zumwinkle behind the Bowdoin goalie for her second goal of the season. The Polar Bears evened the score as Angelina Joyce took a shot from her own rebound and sent it past junior goaltender Lin Han. The goal ended a scoreless streak for the Middlebury defense that had lasted 155:58. In the third period, Middlebury scored early, less than two minutes in, as sophomore Morgan Griffin forced a turnover in the offensive zone and sent the puck to the back of the Bowdoin net. First-year Jenna Letterie added the insurance goal 10 minutes later with a tap in off another Zumwinkle shot.
On Sunday, an unbeaten streak of nine games ended for the Panthers as an overtime goal lifted Bowdoin to victory. Once again, the first period ended with zeros on the scoreboard, despite Middlebury sending some tough shots toward Bowdoin goalie Kerri St. Denis. Middlebury held the shots advantage 13-3 as the second period opened, but the Polar Bears scored first. Taking advantage of a power play opportunity, Bowdoin’s Miranda Bell sent a shot past sophomore Anna Goldstein. Middlebury tied the game up with 2:48 remaining in the second. Sophomore Madie Leidt sent a breakaway pass from the Panthers’ blue line up to Letterie, who rifled a shot top-shelf over St. Denis’ shoulder. The third period was also scoreless, though a point-blank shot from Middlebury’s Katherine Jackson ’19 was denied by St. Denis with just under four minutes remaining. In overtime, Bowdoin had the only two shots and scored with only 32 seconds remaining to secure the win. Bell sent a puck into traffic in front of the net that rebounded and got past Goldstein. Middlebury had the distinct shot advantage at 38-14, but Bowdoin’s St. Denis stood tall all game and only let one through.
Middlebury’s next challenge comes in a two-game home set against Hamilton on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25 and 26. The Panthers, ranked first in the NESCAC, should expect a fight against the Continentals, who rank second and have won their past two games.
(01/17/19 11:00pm)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team beat the Utica College Pioneers 4-3 on Saturday, Dec. 8 before taking off for winter break. Goals by Katie Hargrave ’22, Madie Leidt ’21, and Katherine Jackson ’19 lifted the Panthers to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Utica’s Lexi Stanisewski got the Pioneers on the board less than a minute later, and the period would end 3-1. Middlebury senior Katarina Shuchuk slipped a shot through Utica goalie Bria Reilly’s five-hole midway through the second period to make it 4-1, but the Pioneers came back to score on the power play with 2:16 left in the period. Utica’s Maddie Paydos would score again in the third period to make it 4-3, but the Panthers defense locked down and secured the win.
Middlebury returned from winter break with a double header at home against Amherst on Jan. 4 and 5. The Mammoths opened scoring 16:21 into the first period on a power play goal from Jocelyn Hunyadi after a few early chances. Just over a minute into the second period, Middlebury scored a power play goal of their own as Hargrave converted a rebound from junior Anna Zumwinkle’s shot. The third period was carried by Middlebury, who held a 14-4 shots advantage. Despite a few good chances for the Panthers, none were converted, and the game went to overtime. Both sides had one significant chance each, but neither scored, ending the game in a 1-1 tie.
The second game against Amherst held a better result for Middlebury as a hat-trick by Leidt lifted the Panthers into a 3-0 shutout over the Mammoths. Sophomore goalie Anna Goldstein stood strong against Amherst’s forward push, stopping all 24 shots she faced for her second shutout of the season.
The Panthers faced SUNY Potsdam’s Bears on the road on Jan. 8. The scoreless first period had a shot advantage to the visiting team (11-6), who posted five of those on the only power play chance of the period. The scoring started early in the second period as sophomore Ellie Barney sent her own rebound into the net with just 1:33 off the clock. In the third period, Middlebury’s Hargrave scored with just under seven minutes left, leading to a 2-1 win.
Last weekend had Middlebury adding two more wins to their record as they beat Endicott and UMass Boston on Jan. 11 and 12, respectively. Junior goalie Lin Han earned her second shutout of the season as the Panthers beat Endicott 3-0 off goals in each of the three periods. First-year Eva Hendrikson opened scoring in the first on a power play goal. In the second period, Leidt and Sidney Portner ’20 rang shots off the post before first year Jenna Letterie doubled the lead with just over a minute left. Letterie added an empty net goal at the end of the third to seal the Panthers victory.
Saturday’s contest against UMass Boston had Middlebury continue an eight game unbeaten streak and improve to 8-1-3 on the season as they beat the Beacons 4-0. Special teams won the day as three power play goals and three successful penalty kills helped the Panthers to the top. Morgan Griffin ’21 scored her first goal as a Panther and Hendrikson, Shuchuk, and Zumwinkle all scored power play goals. Middlebury also dominated shots 49-8 as Goldstein and first-year goalie Caroline Silk shared the shutout.
Seventh-ranked Middlebury hopes to continue their unbeaten streak with a double header against Bowdoin next weekend. Bowdoin has yet to win a game in NESCAC play this season.
(12/06/18 10:57am)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team participated in the Panther-Cardinal Classic on Nov. 24 and 25, but fell to the fifth-ranked Adrian College Bulldogs 4-1 in the championship game. The Panthers got off to a fast start with many early chances testing Adrian goalie Katie Turner. With 7:28 remaining in the first period, Middlebury got on the board with a goal from junior Anna Zumwinkle, who was assisted by sophomores Meghan Keating and Madie Leidt. Leidt even managed to ring a shot off the crossbar from the left faceoff dot with a few minutes remaining, almost doubling Middlebury’s lead.
In the second period, Adrian scored with 7:43 remaining as Maggie Mitter slotted a rebound behind sophomore goalie Anna Goldstein. Adrian added three more in the last period, pulling ahead of the Panthers. Bulldog skaters Tory Harshman, Brianna Buchanan and Hannah Dalrymple set up for an even-strength, power play and empty net goal, respectively. Goldstein finished with 23 saves, and the Bulldogs led shots 27-17. Zumwinkle and senior captain Jenna Marotta received all-tournament honors.
The Panthers continued NESCAC play this weekend on the road in New London, Connecticut, where they squared off for a doubleheader against Connecticut College. In Friday’s game, Middlebury handed the Camels their first loss of the season, besting them in a 3-0 shutout. During the first period, the Panthers killed off a two-man disadvantage, surviving a 5-on-3 for more than a minute. While the period ended with shots 7-6 in Middlebury’s favor, the scoreboard was still empty. Early in the second period, Leidt started off what would become a three-point night with a goal assisted by sophomore Ellie Barney. She also scored in the third frame, netting from the high slot after receiving the puck from Marotta and skating coast to coast. First-year Jenna Letterie added the insurance goal on the power play with just over eight minutes remaining after cleaning up a rebound from Leidt’s initial shot. Junior goaltender Lin Han earned her first shutout of the season, stopping all 25 shots that came her way.
At Saturday’s rematch, Middlebury’s conference record improved to 3-0-1 (3-1-2 overall) in a 1-1 tie. The first period was dominated by Panther play, when Middlebury outshot its opponents 12-4. The first goal, however, came with 4:45 remaining in the second period, as Letterie netted during the power play off assists from Marotta and Leidt. The Camels equalized in the third period when Jordan Cross sent a redirected puck past Goldstein. Minutes later, they thought they had the go-ahead goal, but the referees ruled goaltender interference. The game ultimately ended with a 1-1 tie and a slim advantage to Connecticut College on shots (28-26).
Next week, the Panthers will face the Utica College Pioneers, who are coming off the best start in their program’s history and currently boast a 9-1 record. The Pioneers’ first loss of the season came in their last game, and they are anticipated to be a tough match for Middlebury.