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(10/17/19 10:00am)
Let’s face it — while Midd football has played solidly in recent years, powerhouses like Trinity, Tufts, and Amherst have stopped the team from claiming the NESCAC title. But considering how well this season has unfolded so far, it wouldn’t be crazy to think 2019 will be different.
The Panthers brought this season’s record to 5-0, with a 27-26 win over the Colby Mules on Saturday, Oct. 12. Now halfway through the season, the Panthers and the Wesleyan Cardinals are the only undefeated teams in the NESCAC. Both will be put to the test next week, as they face off at Middlebury to see who will get to the 6-0 mark.
This past weekend, however, was a wake-up call for the Panthers, as they barely scraped by against the 0-4 Colby Mules.
The atmosphere at the game was electric. Alumni were back, the crowd was packed and the game was exciting at every turn for those looking to watch the Panthers go 5-0.
The Mules pulled away during the first half, scoring 13 points compared to the Panthers’ six. The Panthers then switched the momentum post-halftime by scoring three unanswered touchdowns. Despite maintaining a cushy 27-13 lead, fumbles by Middlebury on two consecutive drives gave way to two Colby touchdowns. The Mules missed an extra point attempt on their last touchdown and the score was 27-26 Middlebury. A last-second missed field goal by the Mules brought Panther fans to their feet and sealed a Middlebury victory. Although this past weekend was an exciting turn for the Panther crowd, the team must look forward to maintaining their undefeated streak against a tough bout with Wesleyan.
Going into the game against Wesleyan, the Panthers know that this week will be an indicator of the rest of their season. After two close games (double OT win against Amherst and last-second, one-point win against Colby), the Panthers will have to put their best foot forward against a strong Wesleyan team.
Within the past five weeks, the Panthers have accumulated an average of 27.6 points per game, fewer than two points lower than the Cardinals. Although these numbers are not indicative of the team’s successes thus far, it is telling of the upcoming battle on Saturday.
Will Jernigan ’21 has been a crucial piece to the Panther offense this season thanks to his solid passing ability. Jernigan has averaged 227.4 passing yards per game and has accumulated over 1137 passing yards in the past 5 games. The Panthers are third in the conference in this metric. Wesleyan, on the other hand, have not amassed this type of yardage yet this season. The Cardinals average 196.2 passing yards per game, accumulating 981 yards in total. Throughout the season, Jernigan has played an integral role leading the Middlebury offense.
A combination of Middlebury players have accumulated receiving yards. Five different Panthers have notched over 100 receiving yards on the season so far: Maxwell Rye ’20 (345 yds), Greg Livingston ’22 (175 yds), Frank Cosolito ’20 (166 yds), Maxim Bochman ’20 (146 yds), and Aidan Power ’20 (127 yds).
First-year Alex Maldjian ’23 has dominated the Panther rushing game, with Jernigan not far behind. Maldjian has rushed for 448 yards thus far this season, scoring 3 touchdowns on the ground. Jernigan also ran for 396 yards, scoring 5 touchdowns for the Panthers.
Defensively, the Middlebury squad’s depth has driven its 5-0 run. Jack Pistorius ’21, Pete Huggins ’21 and Wyllis McKissick ’20 have recorded over 30 tackles each (Pistorius 45, Huggins 42, McKissick 30). Four Panthers, Zander Bailey ’21, Kevin Hartley ’20, Michael Carr ’20, and Finn Muldoon ’23, have each accumulated two interceptions, respectively. Alex Norton ’20 leads the team in sacks, recording four sacks for a loss of 40 yards total.
Carter Massengill ’20 and Rye have controlled the kicking and punting games for the Panthers. Massengill logged 28 points on the kicking game this season for the Panthers, with his longest bootcoming from 33 yards out. Rye has amassed 948 punting yards within the past five games.
This year, I’ve felt an undeniable sense of energy — it’s not over the top, but this palpable recognition of our confidence to execute.
-Carter Massengill ‘20
The difference between this year’s successes and last year’s season is heavily influenced by the energy of the team.
“I have the honor of spotting the ball throughout practice, which gives me a close up feel of how we are doing as a team. This year, I’ve felt an undeniable sense of energy — it’s not over the top, but this palpable recognition of our confidence to execute,” Massengill said. “I remember making a remark to some other seniors during the preseason that the energy feels different this year. We’ve carried it throughout the season in all three phases of the game.”
This season has been a testament to the Panthers’ strengths on all phases of the game. Jernigan runs the offense using his versatility in the rushing and passing games, with a strong offensive line leading the way. A combination of receivers, alongside Maldjian’s running game, have developed the Panther offensive game. Defensive depth has played a key role in the Panthers’ undefeated season as well, behind a stout defensive line and prepared backfield players.
Looking forward, the Panthers will face a tough, undefeated Wesleyan team. Behind their successes so far, the team looks to come out of the game on top of the NESCAC, to best position themselves for the end-of-season rankings, and win the championship.
(09/12/19 10:03am)
The Panther football team is in the midst of preparing for a successful 2019 campaign, looking to improve on last season’s 5–4 record. Last year, the Panthers had an impressive 5–4 run, but the team will look to increase their wins in the next few months by working faster and harder in the off season.
In their first game of the season, the team will face the Williams Ephs — a longtime rival and huge competitor for the Panthers. In 2018, the squad took home the win, with a 21–10 victory on Williams turf. This year, the team will be looking to do the same, but this time on their home field.
Nescac competition will also feature dominant Tufts and Trinity teams. Last year, the Panthers fell to both teams, but will look to prove their off-season hard work in the upcoming weeks.
Starting at quarterback is junior Will Jernigan ’21, who saw some time on the field last year. Skilled in both the run and pass game, Jernigan is working to lead the Panther offense behind a stout offensive line, with senior wide receiver Max Bochman ’20 leading the routes. Captain offensive lineman Kevin Woodring ’19 will head the offensive line for Jernigan as the team takes on Williams this upcoming weekend. With two weeks of preseason under their belts, the players are well-prepared for the season.
“The biggest thing we’ve been focusing on in preseason is doing the little things well. As a team we’re going to make mistakes, but if we can correct the smallest things, we will be a much better football team,” Woodring said, when asked about their preseason preparation. “My offensive line coach consistently says to us, if we, as a unit, get 1% better each day, over time that adds up and sooner or later we’ll be a very good football team.”
“The little things come down to knowing your assignment, being in the right place and executing your assignment with good technique. This is what our head coach, Bob Ritter, preaches to us everyday at practice and is the reason we spend so much time watching film and walking through plays/formations just so we are mentally aware of what’s going on, so that come game time we can play fast and execute efficiently.”
With an average of 137.2 rushing yards and 183.3 passing yards in the 2018 season (combined for a total of 320.6 yards), the 2019 squad will look to increase these numbers behind Jernigan, Bochman, Woodring and the Panther offense.
The defense will also stand strong with seniors Wyllis McKissick ’20 at linebacker and Alex Norton ’19 on the defensive line, with a host of other Panthers filling in the field. In 2018, the Panthers accumulated 652 tackles and 11 sacks in their nine games, numbers these seniors hope to increase in their upcoming campaign.
Max Rye ’21 and Carter Massingill ’20 will handle the bulk of the punting and kick game, respectively.
With a good amount of senior leadership, as well as strength in the younger grades, this year’s team will look to improve on its solid 2018 season. For team goals this season, the players will be looking to go 1–0 each week, with hopes of attaining the championship.
“The cliche answer to [the question of goals for the season] would be to obviously win a championship and for this team that is certainly attainable,” Woodring said, “The one goal we strive for each week is to go 1–0. If we go can go 1–0 against the team we’re playing that week, well, we will end up as a very good football team. This is achievable through having excellent team chemistry, having diligent film study and flying around and having high energy practices.”
If the season ends up as successful as their preseason, this team will prove strong enough to outplay their Nescac competition.
“So far through preseason, we’ve had excellent practices. Our energy has been great, people have been dedicated to studying film and learning their assignments and most importantly, our team has gelled into a cohesive unit. I look forward to seeing what our team can do this year, we can surprise many people with the talent that we have on this football team,” Woodring added.
(05/09/19 10:00am)
The Middlebury women’s lacrosse team conquered the Tufts Jumbos for their 10th NESCAC Championship this past Sunday, 10-9. With the conference championship under their belts, the team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, as well as a home game in their first national tournament match.
The competition started with a back-and-forth first half, as momentum changed rapidly between the elite teams. Just as Middlebury’s senior captain Emma McDonagh hit the back of the net within five minutes of the game, Tufts answered with two goals of their own. Kirsten Murphy ’21 and Jenna McNicholas ’19 countered the Tufts response, with assists from Jane Earley ’22. Tufts then regained momentum, taking back the lead right before half, 5-4.
Tufts was able to extend its lead to three goals following halftime. Murphy and Earley then responded with two offensive strikes, eliminating the gap, and bringing the score to 7-6. Another back-and-forth stint brought the score to 9-9 with only five minutes left on the clock.
With four minutes left in the game, McDonagh punched the final goal to seal the win, sending the Panthers into the NCAA tournament.
Jane Earley, NESCAC player of the week for the second time this season, scored a career-high five goals against Tufts. When asked about the team’s performance, Earley dedicated her squad’s success to their composure and motivation, which not only handed them a NESCAC Championship, but a chance at a larger post-season.
Though Tufts fell short of a NESCAC title, they earned an at-large bid into the national tournament, and did so alongside many other NESCAC teams, showing the strength of the conference. Including Middlebury and Tufts, fiveNESCAC teams filled the national bracket: Middlebury, Bowdoin, Amherst, Wesleyan and Tufts.
“I think we stayed composed, especially when Tufts went up a few goals on us. We stayed calm and slowly but steadily won back the momentum,” Earley said, “It feels amazing to share such a huge accomplishment with all of my best friends. We have worked so hard to be successful in such a challenging league and to have all of our hard work pay off was so rewarding.”
This upcoming Sunday, the Middlebury squad will either play JWU (16-4) or Morrisville State (14-5), depending on the results of the JMU vs. Morrisville first-round game on Saturday. Either way, the Panthers will be hosting the game on their home turf.
If the Panthers continue their 13-game streak of holding opponents to single digits, as well as their perfect record against nationally-ranked opponents (12-0), their journey into the NCAA tournament will be exciting and something to watch.
(05/02/19 9:59am)
The Middlebury women’s lacrosse team dominated Bates in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament, winning 15-2. It took more than 40 minutes for the Bates Bobcats to score, while the Panthers racked up 15 points with two halves of impressive play.
The Panthers looked to redeem themselves after an outlier loss to Bates for their first game of the season in OT. Not only did the Panthers prove themselves deserving of their No. 3 national ranking, but they also made up for a first game blunder. This time Middlebury was dominant.
Less than two minutes into the start of the game, senior captain Emma McDonagh started off the scoring for the Panthers. With two goals in just a few minutes, McDonagh spurred the ceaseless offensive domination. McDonagh lead the Panther offense with five goals on the game.
By halftime, Middlebury had acquired 2/3 of their points, leading the Bobcats 10-0. Kirsten Murphy ’21 tacked on four goals throughout the contest, two of which came at the start of the half. Murphy’s goals put the Panthers up 12-0. Minutes later, two Panthers connected with the back of the net (Kate Zecca ’20 and Lily Riseberg ’22). Finally, Zecca added a second goal to complete the Panther 15-0 run.
With only a few minutes left in the game, the Bobcats were finally able to put a few points on the board, ending the contest 15-2.
McDonagh, whose season has been impressive within itself, reached 202 career points this past weekend.
Not only did the team dominate offensively, but they also continue to impress defensively. Julia Keith ’20 had a great game, finishing with 10 saves to shutout the Bobcats in her 40:55 on the field. Defender Addy Mitchell ’21 also collected four ground balls on the day. Out of 16 games this season, the Panthers have held their competition to single digits 14 times.
While the Panthers have had an impressive season thus far, the postseason is not yet finished. Coming up this weekend, the women’s lacrosse team will face Amherst in the semifinals.
(04/25/19 10:00am)
Fresh off another win against the fifth-ranked team in the nation, the women’s lacrosse team has not looked back, extending their record to 13-1. Rookie Jane Earley ’22, who earned NESCAC Player of the Week, led the Panthers to a 10-9 victory over fifth-ranked Tufts with four goals. Earley clutched the victory with a game-winning goal in the last three minutes of the contest, bringing the Panther record to 13-1 with just one game left in the regular season.
Momentum shifted throughout the entire game, as both teams never fell below a two-point deficit. Just as the Panthers jumped to a 2-1 start, the Jumbos responded with three of their own. This back-and-forth would continue throughout the game, reflecting the intensity of the contest.
With 4:30 left in the game, the score was knotted 9-9. The Jumbos controlled the following draw — just as they had for the majority of the game — and raced down the field to face goalie Julia Keith ’20. Keith saved a Tufts shot and Middlebury successfully cleared the ball to Earley. Earley, with less than three minutes on the clock, took the ball around her defender and rocketed the shot to the back of the net.
The Panthers’ 10-9 victory puts them in a favorable position for the number one seed in the NESCAC tournament. In order to lock in their spot at the top, the Panthers will either have to knock off Williams or bank on Tufts falling to 14th-ranked Bowdoin.
Last week, senior Sara DiCenso said that their final two regular season games would be a challenge. Against Tufts, the Panther squad was able to overcome a difficult battle — one of the toughest they have seen this season. Williams will be the next bout before their postseason run.
This season, the Williams Ephs have a 7-7 record, including a 3-6 record in conference play. Williams and Middlebury both lost to an 8-6 Bates team, but Middlebury has the upper hand with the rest of its impressive play. Middlebury’s sole loss came from their first game, which was decided in a heartbreaking OT. This served to be the wake-up call the team needed, as they have been spotless since that minor setback.
(04/18/19 9:58am)
The Panther women’s lacrosse team moved to an 11-game win streak, picking up two conference wins this past weekend against Trinity and Hamilton, scoring double digits against two impressive teams. Moving forward, the Panthers are on a blazing trail, hoping to close out the season against Tufts and Williams.
Against Trinity, the No. 3 Panthers cruised into a 7-0 record versus nationally-ranked opponents, beating the No. 12 Bantams 14-8. While the score was tight for most of the game, a spur of Middlebury scoring brought the Panthers the victory.
Senior captain Emma McDonagh ’19 started off the scoring events with a 2-for-2 bout against Trinity’s Mary French. After the teams netted the game at 2-2, McDonagh connected with the back of the net for another goal, heating up the Panther offense. Trinity soon gained momentum back, which created a small 2-3 goal gap between the teams.
The second half, however, proved the Panthers’ resilience. Emily Barnard, Jenna McNicholas and Kirsten Murphy led the Panthers to an 11-6 score, which was then furthered by additional goals on the part of McNicholas. While the Bantams tried to push back, the stellar Middlebury defense held on for a 14-8 win.
The next day, the Panthers also beat No. 24 Hamilton, with a 13-9 final score. Middlebury created an impressive gap in the beginning of the game, setting off the score to 7-2 before the half. The Continentals never caught up to the Panther offense, always in a point deficit that could not be erased.
Jane Earley had an impressive game, putting up seven points (three goals, four assists), while McDonagh also continued her scoring streak to 40 games. Erin Nicholas won the draw eight times, setting up Panther control.
Looking forward, ending the regular season on two conference wins is key for the team’s post-season. With the potential of this year’s squad, Middlebury is looking to work towards ending the regular season well, as a testament to their hard work and strengths.
“We are looking forward to a challenge in the last two games of the regular season. One of the main things we are working on is decreasing the number of turnovers,” senior Sara DiCenso said. “One of our strengths is that we have many people who can score and contribute to our offense. On the other side of the field, our backer defense is high pressure and we have done a good job of winning the ball back.”
If the Panthers can decrease turnovers, keep up the defensive pressure and continually connect with the back of the net, their post-season will be an extension of the regular season’s success.
(03/21/19 10:00am)
This past weekend, the Middlebury women’s lacrosse team improved their record to 3-1, defeating fellow NESCAC competition, the Wesleyan Cardinals, 8-7. Momentum shifted back and forth throughout the game, but the Panthers drove in the winning goal with just five minutes on the clock.
Though the Cardinals put up the first point of the game, Middlebury came back with force. Within the next 16 minutes of the contest, three Panthers connected with the net: Casey O’Neill ’19, Emily Barnard ’20 and Jenna McNicholas ’19. After another Wesleyan score, McNicholas put the Panthers up 4-2 for her second goal of the game. By halftime, the Cardinals answered with two of their own goals, tying the score 4-4.
The second half became a back-and-forth battle between the offenses. Wesleyan put up three points, countered by another three Panther goals. With five minutes left, Emma McDonagh ’19 capitalized on a free-position shot. The game ended in an 8-7 Panther victory. “Coming into the game we knew Wesleyan was going to be very competitive and the score reflected this: never being more than two goals apart the whole game,” McDonagh said, “We really tried to focus on taking the game one play at a time and not getting distracted by the end goal. We relied on communication to stay composed and are always reminding each other to be confident.”
McDonagh, along with McNicholas and Barnard, each had two goals on the day. The senior emphasized the defense’s ability to step up against a gritty Wesleyan offense.
“Wesleyan has some really strong attackers that drive hard to cage and our defense did an incredible job stopping them and playing as a unit,” said McDonagh.
Defender Addy Mitchell ’21 kept the Cardinals’ scoring at bay. The sophomore caused six turnovers throughout the contest, while also recording four ground balls.
Ranked sixth in the nation, the team looks to March 23 when they will play Bowdoin in another NESCAC bout. The Polar Bears are 1-3 for the season and 1-2 in NESCAC play. The Panther squad seeks to improve upon their already-impressive season with their motivation and “grit.”
“This team is talented but really embraces hard work and isn’t afraid to play gritty. I think we have stepped up our intensity in practice, and it serves us well in games,” said McDonagh. “We still have a lot of things we can execute better so we will continue to focus on improving during practice to prepare us for our games.”
(03/14/19 9:59am)
The Middlebury Women’s lacrosse team grabbed two wins this past week, against Springfield College (16 to 1) and fellow NESCAC competitor, Connecticut College (16 to 3). The Panthers’ wins brought the squad to a 2-1 record following the OT loss to Bates.
Both games were characterized by the Panther offense unloading on their competition.
Against Springfield College, the team opened up the first half with 12 goals, giving up none in return. Throughout the game, a conglomeration of Panthers connected with the back of the net. Out of nine scorers for Middlebury, Kate Zecca ’20 led the team with three goals. Middlebury showed impressive improvement in the team stats, attempting 24 more shots than Springfield.
Following the Springfield game, Middlebury continued to use their momentum against Conn. College. It only took the Panthers 28 seconds to put their first of 16 points on the board, when senior captain Emma McDonagh beat out Conn. College defenders to give Middlebury the first point of the game. By halftime, the Panthers already had a 10 point cushion, leading 11-1. Middlebury held this comfortable lead until the end, coming out of the contest with a 16-3 win.
McDonagh led the Panthers with five goals, and continued her 30-game scoring streak (which stretches back to her sophomore year). She also exceeded 150 points in her college career, with 112 goals and 42 assists.
Competing against Springfield and Connecticut College proved the team’s ability to not only play offensively, but protect its own net. The total team effort propelled the Panthers towards winning. Though the first loss against Bates was tough, the Panthers are moving forward, and are ready for the season ahead.
“Our team gels really well with each other, so one of our goals is to translate this more effectively to on-field execution,” said sophomore defense Addy Mitchell, ”I think right now we’re just working on figuring out our sets and communicating better with each other during games.”
With a successful program behind them, and a motivated group of athletes, the 2019 team looks to move far into the postseason — just as they did in previous years. The Panthers will use their gel and determination to keep improving and see their work translate onto the field.
(03/07/19 10:59am)
For the first time in 21 years, the women’s basketball team participated in the NCAA tournament, beating John Carroll in the first round, 62-54 on March 1. Though the Panthers fell to host DeSales University (70-55) the next day, their season was one for the books.
In their first bout, the Panthers overcame John Carroll after a close four-quarter stint. Both teams went back-and-forth throughout the game, gaining the momentum and then flipping it. Middlebury came out strong in the 1st quarter, with junior Kira Waldman putting up 5 points in the first four minutes. The competition then took the lead in the second and third quarters, beginning the third quarter at 34-28. Midway through the third, the Panther team pushed back, edging out the competition going into the fourth. After senior Alex Huffman sunk a three-pointer in the last quarter, the Panthers gained control and maintained it until the final buzzer.
Middlebury went 20-57 in field goal percentage, topping John Carroll by 7 percent. The Panthers also almost doubled John Carroll’s points in the paint (30-18). Juniors Waldman and Besty Knox lead the Panthers with 15 points and three rebounds, respectively.
Heading into the second round of the tournament, the Panthers faced DeSales University. According to junior forward Vanessa Young, the Panthers were “ready for a good game against the very fast-paced and aggressive hosts.”
Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to keep up against the Bulldogs, falling to the hosts 70-55. DeSales had a strong start to the competition, leading by double digits by the second quarter. However, a period of Middlebury offense brought the Panthers back into striking distance, led by senior Colleen Caveney who put up 16 points throughout the course of the game. DeSales created a deficit the Panthers could not overcome. Their 70-55 win took them to the next round of the tournament, ending Middlebury’s season.
“Although it was different from the style of play we are used to in the NESCAC, we had good moments of controlling the play of the game,” Young said. “However, we committed too many turnovers, but stayed in the game until the end, lessening the deficit in the final minutes.”
“I think it was a breakthrough season for our program,” head coach KJ Krasco said in a press conference following the game against DeSales. “This group was definitely one that set the bar for where our program wants to continue to go year in and year out, and hopefully a little further.”
Though the season did not end the way the Panthers would have hoped, Young said was an exceptional season for many reasons.
“Although we will never be fully satisfied by ending our season with a loss, we do have a lot to be proud of this season. Our four seniors—Colleen Caveney, Catherine Harrison, Ivy Houde and Alex Huffman—ended their first year at Middlebury [by placing] eighth in the NESCAC. They have brought this program so far and the entire team is so grateful for all they’ve done,” Young said.
Middlebury’s improvement record speaks to the seniors’ leadership. The team progressed from an eighth-place finish at the 2016 NESCAC Championship, to a fourth-place finish and an NCAA bid.
“This year we made history: we hit the 20-win mark, got an NCAA bid and won our first-round game,” Young said. “Not many people expected us to make it past the quarter finals of the NESCAC tournament, much less get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. After playing at DeSales this weekend, we confirmed what we already knew: we can play with, and beat, some of the best teams in the country. Playing in that environment taught us so much, and we only wish we had more time to experience it with our wonderful seniors.”
(02/28/19 10:58am)
After a tight matchup on the road against Trinity for the NESCAC quarterfinals, the women’s team looked to ride the wave against Bowdoin in Brunswick. But the women were unsuccessful in their battle against an intimidating number one-seeded Maine team.
Despite a competitive first quarter, the Panthers finished the contest trailing the Polar Bears by more than 20 points. Earlier in the month they narrowly missed the ‘dub’ by a close margin of four points, falling 58-62. This was their chance to avenge their NESCAC foes, but they fell short and fell hard.
Some Middlebury players showed flashes of greatness on the court. Junior Kira Waldman was one of these women, putting up 17 points for her team. Fellow junior Maya Davis played a crucial role on defense, ripping 11 rebounds from Bowdoin hands.
Though Middlebury fell in the NESCAC semifinals to an undefeated Bowdoin team, the squad has a new goal in sight — the NCAA tournament. The women will not take any moment of this final journey for granted, and plan on going for gold.
Three other NESCAC teams made the NCAA tournament as well, including Tufts (NESCAC champions), Bowdoin and Amherst.
Just a day later, however, the Tufts Jumbos shut down the undefeated Bowdoin — taking the crown and securing a bid into the NCAA tournament. Luckily for the Panthers, three more spots were awarded to NESCAC teams, recognizing the tough competition of the conference.
The Panthers found their way into the tournament for the first time in 21 years, since the 1997-1998 season. This huge feat exemplifies Middlebury’s motivation to make it far into the postseason. There is no doubt this team is ready to have fun while competing at the highest level.
The women will begin their road to the NCAA championship this Friday, March 1 against John Carroll in Center Valley, Pennsylvania at 5:00 p.m.
(02/21/19 10:57am)
This week, the Panther women’s basketball team elevated itself into the NESCAC finals, beating the fourth-ranked Trinity Bantams, 75-71. While the Panthers fell to Trinity during the regular season, they stepped up their game to compete at their best when it mattered most.
Junior Maya Davis controlled the offensive game, posting an impressive 22 points in the bout. She also had eight rebounds on the game. This high-intensity performance also handed Davis the NESCAC women’s basketball player of the week. The notable accolade holds importance during the NESCAC playoffs, showing her vital offensive game in the Panther victory.
According to Davis, the regular -season loss helped them roll over Trinity and into the semifinals.
“We made some defensive changes to try and stop their key players as well as adjust[ing] our offensive game to focus on the places that were open in the last game,” Davis said. “The great thing about playing them twice is that we were able to make changes to our strategy and get some redemption.”
Middlebury and Trinity were neck and neck in team stats, breaking even in points scored in the paint and almost identical in rebounds, assists, turnovers, and field goals. Just as the team stats ended up relatively level, the game proved to be a close stretch the whole way through.
The fourth quarter came with a one-point Panther lead, which in a matter of minutes increased to a 59-52 game. The Bantams, however, refused to give in. As seen throughout the rest of the contest, Trinity battled back to a one-point game with less than five minutes to play.
A string of Middlebury players closed out the game for the Panthers, moving the team into the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament.
Next week, the Panthers will have to face off against an undefeated (24-0) Bowdoin team, ranked first in the conference and in the NCAA (according to D3Hoops.com). Tufts and Amherst will battle against one another for the other spot in the NESCAC final.
In order to beat Bowdoin, Middlebury will have to put forth its best game.
“We are focusing on what we can control, which is our effort and energy. We are also showing up every day to practice eager and excited for this opportunity,” said Davis.
The Panther squad has a lot to gain from the win against Trinity, and can apply what it has accomplished to compete against one of the best DIII women’s basketball programs.
“It felt so great to get the win on Saturday,” Davis concluded. “It was a full team effort and everybody contributed in different ways, but we did it together and I think that is one reason why it felt so good. We are excited and focused this week while preparing for our game this weekend.”
(01/24/19 10:55am)
The most recent NESCAC women’s basketball rankings place the Middlebury Panthers in third out of the 11 teams, behind Amherst and Bowdoin, after beating the Williams Ephs 76-62 last Saturday. The Panthers move to an overall 15-2 record, 4-1 in the NESCAC conference.
Williams is ranked in a three-way tie for sixth in NESCAC standings with Conn. College and Wesleyan, just one loss behind Trinity.
Last week, junior forward Vanessa Young emphasized the team’s desire to work on their defensive game to ensure success in the latter part of the regular season. Saturday’s contest was a testament to this improvement, alongside depth and teamwork in the Panthers’ offensive game.
On Saturday, all five Middlebury starters put up impressive points (four out of five hitting double digits) to combine for the Panther win. Betsy Knox ’20 (nine points), Catherine Harrison ’19 (15 points), Alex Huffman ’19 (11 points), Colleen Cavaney ’19 (17 points) and Kira Waldman ’20 (14 points) accounted for 66 out of the Panthers’ 76 points.
Middlebury controlled the paint and demonstrated its offensive strength against the Ephs this week, proving the Panthers are a force to be reckoned with within the conference. Williams scored only 26 points in the paint compared to the Panthers’ 40 points. Midd further proved its offensive dominance as the Panthers hit a 57.7 percent field goal percentage.
Though this past week exemplified the Panthers’ strength as a team, Knox knows there is more work to be done heading into the later part of the season.
“As a team, we want to continue to eliminate our mistakes. We want to be a great team, and to do that we need to put together 40 minutes of great basketball. We are already really close off the court, but we are working hard to improve our on-court chemistry as well,” Knox said.
Moving forward, there are only two non-conference teams left to play before the Panthers close out the regular season against NESCAC competitors Trinity, Bowdoin, Colby, Hamilton and Amherst. With these games, the Panthers will be able to keep refining their defense and offense, and improve their standing at both the conference and national level.
Knox acknowledges that the upcoming games are important but the team is ready for the competition ahead.
“All of our games coming up are big games. As a fairly veteran team, we have learned that every team in the NESCAC is good and has the capacity to beat any other team on any given day,” Knox said. “To win we have to play well — nothing will be handed to us at this point. We have two non-conference matchups this week, which are also big for us. We need to play well so we can make NCAAs.”
(01/17/19 10:59am)
The Middlebury women’s basketball team has improved to a 13-2 record, losing only one of those battles to conference competition. Though both losses have come in recent games, the overall successful start to the season will propel the Panthers into championship season.
Forward Vanessa Young ’20 acknowledges that the team has had great success so far, but were let down by the two losses. Young sees these losses as stepping stones going further into the season: “We’ve definitely had a really successful season so far. Although we dropped two games — Westfield St. and Tufts — we’re using those games as good learning experiences to continue to improve upon all the hard work we’ve done.”
It will take a lot of perseverance to move past the loss to fellow conference-rival Tufts. Last year, Middlebury landed fourth in the NESCAC rankings, behind Amherst, Bowdoin and Tufts. All three powerhouses made it into the NCAA tournament — something the Panthers hope to achieve this year.
Accomplishing that goal entails strong intra-conference games. The Panthers know they must compete well against other NESCAC teams, especially Bowdoin and Amherst. Learning from the loss to Tufts, as well as Westfield State, is the next step in ensuring a successful season.
With a deep bench, talented offense, and skilled defense, Young sees potential in her squad, as do the rest of her teammates.
“We’ve seen that our defense wins us games, so we are definitely going to work harder to lock that down, especially 1 v 1 defense, in order to finish out our season strong,” Young said. “We know that we’re capable of achieving a lot this year, and are looking forward to getting it done!”
Their impressive record should not be overlooked. Thirteen wins to a minimal two losses is a great start to head into the later parts of the season. Additionally, the squad beat three other NESCAC teams: Connecticut College (49-44), Wesleyan (69-57) and Bates (70-58).
The next big game will be against Williams this Saturday, which will be a testament to the team’s hard work and further NESCAC play. Starting in February, the Panthers will face both Bowdoin and Amherst. This gives Middlebury plenty of time to smooth out their play and finish the regular season with strength.
(12/06/18 10:57am)
The Panther women’s basketball team improved to a 6-0 record after beating the Sage Colleges on Thursday, Nov. 29 and Colby-Sawyer on Saturday, Dec. 1. Their winning streak is a testament to the squad’s versatility on both sides of the court.
The team is ranked sixth nationally for team defense, which, alongside offensive tenacity, is a dangerous combination — one that has led them to their 6-0 start.
“We’ve done a really good job at playing our game and staying consistent and composed. Our defense has also been extremely effective,” said junior forward Vanessa Young. “We’ve been holding teams to fewer points than they normally score.”
Against Sage, the Panthers pulled away 63-44, scoring 28 points off of turnovers and amassing an impressive field-goal percentage of 42.9. The third quarter characterized a 19-point scoring run, compared to the competition’s five points. The Panthers kept Sage at a 15-point deficit for the final quarter, securing their victory.
Middlebury’s defense proved its dominance on Saturday, Dec. 1 against Colby-Sawyer. Not only did the Panthers hold their competition’s field-goal percentage to 16.4 (9-55), but they also held out 56-31 for rebounds.
Junior Maya Davis had a notable presence in both games, combining for 26 points and 18 rebounds. Colleen Caveney ’19 dropped 19 points against Sage, while Catherine Harrison ’19 led the team with 17 points on Saturday versus Colby-Sawyer.
“We are really excited to have had such a strong start. We’re looking forward to finishing a strong preseason and getting into NESCAC play in January,” Young said.
Last year, in NESCAC standing Middlebury finished fourth, behind No. 1 Amherst, No. 2 Bowdoin and No. 3 Tufts. Amherst and Bowdoin met in the NCAA championship last year, while Tufts made it to the semifinals, where they lost to Bowdoin. Amherst, Bowdoin and Tufts will prove to be tough competition for the Panthers once again, as the NESCAC teams are successful at the national level.
The Panthers still have to face nonconference play before getting to the NESCAC stage. Looking forward, the team will hopefully go into January with experience that could help it against other NESCAC powerhouses.
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(11/29/18 10:57am)
The Middlebury women’s basketball team started off their season with three decisive wins against Lasell, Springfield and Castleton, as they outscored their opponents 218 to 130. Moving forward, the Panthers are creating a formula for success, which they hope to improve upon as they advance in their season.
The Panthers’ offensive success can be attributed to their roster’s depth. For the first three games, all of the players had a hand in executing plays, raking in offensive power from across the team, and gelling well as a unit.
“We’ve done a great job so far of working the ball around offensively so that every player’s a threat, which is great with a bench as deep as ours,” senior guard Colleen Caveney said. Caveney dropped 16 points in the team’s most recent win at Castleton, amassing 37 points in just three games.
The Panthers beat both of their competitors in the Middlebury Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Middlebury on Nov. 16-17. Against Lasell, Middlebury posted 50 points in the paint, while amassing 60 rebounds. The blue and white eventually defeated Lasell 81-43 for their first win of the season. The Panthers proceeded to score 63 points against Springfield, with 28 of these points being scored off of the bench. The final score was 63-57.
A few days later at Castleton, Middlebury came out on top 74-30. Notably, the defense forced 14 turnovers, and then managed to accumulate 22 points off of those turnovers.
In addition to producing an effective offensive attack throughout all three games, the Panthers were able to keep a sturdy defense, allowing a total of just 130 points. Once the season hits its stride, the Panthers will be ready to face strong competition within and beyond the NESCAC.
“Our defensive intensity and aggressive transition offense has brought us three wins, and we’re looking forward to playing some more teams that will challenge our capabilities under pressure,” Caveney said.
On Thursday, the Panthers will be competing against MCLA, hoping to continue their successful start to the season.
(11/15/18 10:58am)
The Middlebury football team fell to the Tufts Jumbos 35-13 this past Saturday, concluding its season with a 5-4 record and a fourth-place finish in the NESCAC conference. Though Middlebury put up a tough fight, Tufts took the game in the third quarter, sealing the Panthers’ fate.
Throughout the first half, both teams were able to come away with a pair of touchdowns. Middlebury set the tone in its first drive of the quarter, plucking away at yardage, until sophomore QB Will Jernigan punched the ball in from the seven-yard line. A high-intensity Panther defense came onto the field in response, looking to deflect a Jumbo touchdown.
Tufts, however, made its way down the field a few minutes later. With 6:12 left in the quarter, the Jumbos connected in the end zone to even out the scoreboard, 7-7. The rest of the quarter went scoreless.
Two more scores created a thrilling second quarter, starting with a Panther interception by junior Coltrane Marcus. After this turnover, Jernigan was able to hit senior wide receiver Jimmy Martinez with a 28-yard reception. Martinez brought the ball down to the nine-yard line, where Jernigan sealed the touchdown. After a missed extra point attempt, the Panthers were up 13-7.
One more Jumbo score right before halftime, making the score 14-13, altered this Panther momentum.
Going back onto the field after halftime, Tufts was able to come out guns blazing. Three more touchdowns later, and a clock set to 0:00, both teams’ seasons ended. The 35-13 win placed Tufts third in the conference, while the Panthers ended up fourth.
Overall, the Panther team’s season was highlighted by a big win against Williams, redeeming the last-second loss of the 2017 season. The team also beat a .500 record, placing them in the top half of the conference.
(11/08/18 10:58am)
The Panther football team took home a big win against the Hamilton Continentals this weekend, pulling off a 35-17 victory in the Old Rocking Chair Classic. Not only did the Panthers improve their Old Rocking Chair Classic record, beating the Continentals 31 out of their 39 meetings all-time, but they also improved their season record to 5-3, heading into the last game of the season.
Along with the win, the Panthers brought home the rocking chair — a tradition created in 1980 by John Kirk ’39 and Mac Bristol, a 1943 Hamilton graduate, to intensify the competition between the two NESCAC schools. Every year, the Hamilton and Middlebury football teams compete for the rocking chair, given to the athletic department until the next season’s bout.
The road to the rocking chair began in the first quarter of the game, as the Panthers successfully took control within the first five minutes. Sophomore quarterback Will Jernigan found Conrado Banky ’19 for a 49-yard touchdown and first score of the game. On the ensuing Hamilton drive, Middlebury recovered a fumble that led to a touchdown connection between Jernigan and junior Frank Cosolito.
Though Hamilton shot back in the second quarter with a six-yard rushing touchdown to put the Continentals on the board, Jernigan and Cosolito connected on another pass in the last five minutes of the half, to put the Panthers up 21-7 with 3:56 on the clock.
The half was far from over. Hamilton was able to punch in another touchdown with 1:30 before halftime, and a turnover on the part of the Middlebury offense offered an opportunity for Hamilton to decrease the deficit. The Continentals were able to score a 30-yard field goal right before the half, closing the Middlebury lead to 21-17.
Middlebury running back Peter Scibilia ’21 added two more touchdowns to the scoreboard, making the final score 35-17.
The Panthers were able to capitalize on plays to secure their victory on Saturday. They edged out the Continentals in total offensive yards 379 to 351, and time of possession 30:34 to 29:26. Additionally, the Panthers only had two turnovers to Hamilton’s three, which all aided Middlebury in its fight for the win.
Next week, Middlebury will take on the Tufts Jumbos on their own turf. Last year, the Panthers concluded their 7-2 season with an on-the-road victory against Tufts. This season, Middlebury will look to do the same in front of the home crowd, for its last game of the 2018 season.
(11/01/18 9:56am)
The Panthers traveled to Hartford, Connecticut this past weekend to face the Trinity Bantams. Middlebury suffered a 48-0 loss, bringing its season record to 4-3, while Trinity won its sixth game of the season.
Offensively, the Panthers had a hard time working the ball down the field. Unable to catch onto momentum, the team did its best to suppress the Trinity offense, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Sophomores Jonathan Hobart and Pete Huggins recorded 12 and 11 tackles during the game, respectively.
Punter Maxwell Rye ’20 had an impressive game, with a game average of 41 yards per punt. His season average of 39.7 yards per game puts him on top of the leaderboard for NESCAC punters.
Looking forward, the Middlebury team will be facing Hamilton and Tufts to determine whether it ends with a winning record. The Panthers will also be fighting for a strong NESCAC standing in the coming weeks.
Last year, Hamilton had one of its seasons in the past few years. This year, the Continentals are on the same path, with a 2-5 record and immense potential. Earlier in the season, Hamilton beat Wesleyan in a close 33-29 game, while the Cardinals beat the Panthers earlier in the season. Though Hamilton was able to beat teams Middlebury struggled against, the Panthers will go in looking to turn heads and move up the NESCAC rankings.
Coming up, the Panthers will also face the Tufts Jumbos on Saturday, Nov. 10 for their last home game of the season. The Jumbos are 5–2 on the season thus far and pose a bigger threat to Middlebury’s season. The Panthers beat Amherst while Tufts lost to Amherst, proving that this game is up for grabs. Hopefully, a home crowd will ramp up enough energy and excitement for a win.
Aditionally, Middlebury will be facing Tufts on its home field for the last game of the season, which will ramp up energy and excitement for the Panthers.
(10/25/18 9:58am)
The Middlebury football team took on the Bates Bobcats in front of the Homecoming crowd this past Saturday. After a thrilling fourth quarter, the Panthers finished with the win, 35-34.
The previous week started off a new sense of momentum for the Panthers. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the team traveled to Williams College, where they snapped Williams’ undefeated streak this season with a score of 21-10.
Two Middlebury players received NESCAC Player of the Week awards, senior Bobby Ritter (Defensive Player of the Week) and junior punter Maxwell Rye (Special Teams Player of the Week). A total-team effort propelled the Panthers over the Ephs, an attempt to come back from their loss to Williams in the 2017 season.
This week’s matchup was a little too close for comfort, but the Panthers held on for the win — this being their 30th straight win over Bates.
Three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter on the part of the Panthers included 92-yard and 17-yard touchdown passes from quarterback Will Jernigan ’21, as well as a drive into the end zone for Drew Jacobs ’18. By halftime, the Panthers were up 28-13.
The third quarter kept the momentum going for awhile, as a matched score for each side put the teams up 35-20. Soon, however, Bates began capitalizing on Middlebury turnovers and driving down the field. Another Bobcat score in the late third quarter put them just a touchdown away from the Panthers, and the intensity increased. The next Bobcat possession also led to a touchdown, making the score 35-34 during the fourth quarter.
At the 2:20 mark, Bates had one last chance to take the lead. With less than a minute left, senior Clay Hunt picked off the Bobcat pass, allowing the Panthers to take home the victory, 35-34.
Jernigan led the offense in the game, completing 17 of 26 passes for 266 yards. On the defensive end, Hunt led the team with nine tackles and the game-sealing interception.
Next weekend, the Panthers will go on to face the Trinity Bantams, who are 5-1 on the season.
(10/11/18 9:57am)
The rivalry between Middlebury and Amherst is historically intense. Not only have both teams ended with impressive records the past few years, but they have also been competitively vying for the top spot in the conference with other top NESCAC teams.
Two years ago, during the 2016 season, Middlebury snapped the Mammoths’ 21-game winning streak. Last year, the Panthers came away with a thrilling last-minute victory on the road at Amherst. This year, however, the Mammoths stormed the field in celebration, coming out on top 21–0 against Middlebury. The Panthers fell to a 2–2 record, while Amherst remains undefeated (4–0) on the season.
The Middlebury offense could not get enough momentum to push the ball downfield, resulting in an inability to score against the Mammoth defense. Though the two teams differed by only six team passing yards, Amherst topped the Panthers by almost 100 rushing yards. The time of possession being almost equal (Amherst’s 29:39 to Middlebury’s 30:21), Middlebury’s rushing game proved the weakness of the Panther offense.
Amherst scored one touchdown during each of the first three quarters. Though there were few total scores, the game intensity was still high.
Sophomore quarterback Will Jernigan took the place of starting quarterback Jack Meservy ’19, who left the game after the first few plays due to injury. Jernigan threw a season high of 133 yards, the most offensive yards on the day for the Panthers.
Peter Scibila ’21 ran for a total of 34 yards on 11 carries and had three receptions for 53 yards on the day, totaling most of the Panther offense alongside Jernigan.
The Middlebury squad will head to Williamstown, Massachusetts, this weekend, where they will take on Williams in another fierce battle between NESCAC competitors. Last year, Williams beat the Panthers on a last-second touchdown, one of two losses for the 2017 Middlebury team. This year, the Panthers will be back with vengeance, hoping to improve upon their performances thus far and regain a winning record.