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(04/24/08 12:00am)
Author: Dickie Redmond The Middlebury women's lacrosse team won its sixth consecutive game this Saturday at Kohn Field, beating the Wesleyan Cardinals 19-6. The win earned the Panthers the top seed in the upcoming NESCAC tournament - the eighth straight for the team. Middlebury finishes off its regular season next Saturday at Tufts before the team hosts the NESCAC semifinals and finals on May 3 and 4. "Wesleyan was feisty, but we took it upon ourselves to play our game from the first whistle," said co-captain Katherine Entwisle '08. "We dominated out there - our midfield connections looked awesome and the intensity was high the entire game."Entwisle led the Panthers in goals on Saturday, scoring six and beginning the team's scoring streak. Wesleyan scored the first goal of the game less than one minute after the opening buzzer, boosting the Cardinals' confidence. Middlebury responded, however, four minutes later off a free position shot by Entwisle to tie the game at one. The Panthers went on to score four more unanswered goals. Mimi Schatz '08 had three consecutive assists in the first 10 minutes of the game, setting up goals for Entwisle, first-year Sally Ryan '11 and Lindsay Winstead '10, while adding two goals of her own in the half. Ryan finished with four, netting the second-most goals for the team. The Cardinals scored again 10 minutes into the first half, cutting the Panther lead to three. Middlebury responded with a streak of seven goals - two from co-captain Reid Berrien '08, who finished the game with a hat trick. The Panthers dominated the half, outscoring the Cardinals 12-2. In the second half against Wesleyan, the Panthers were less dominant, but still outscored the Cardinals by three. Again, Wesleyan had the first goal of the half, but the Cardinals' efforts were soon extinguished when Ryan responded with a pair of unassisted goals. Entwisle also had two unassisted goals in the half. Blair Bowie '09 had five saves and played for the majority of the game. "It is good to know that we can keep our mental edge for an entire game while being up by a lot," said Entwisle. "We never let down, and I'm really proud of everyone on the team for putting forth their best effort."Two weekends ago, Middlebury battled Trinity at Sheppard Field, winning by two in an impressive second-half comeback. The Panthers outscored the Bantams 7-1 to close the game, winning 13-11 in regular play. Dana Heritage '10 led the team with five goals, while Taylor Brown '11 helped maintain possession with seven draw controls.After playing Trinity, the Panthers went on to beat Union last Wednesday, boosting team spirit as they battled past the eighth-ranked Dutchwomen. Middlebury came out strong, scoring the first three goals of the game and outscoring its opponent 12-4. Heritage finished the game with four goals, leading the Panther scoring unit. Entwisle and Schatz each scored three and were second in scoring for Middlebury. The Panthers look to finish their season strong against Tufts this Saturday in Medford, Mass., and to continue to build momentum throughout the postseason.
(04/17/08 12:00am)
Author: James Kerrigan Women's lacrosse tops Trinity 13-11, moves to 7-2Trailing 6-5 after halftime, the women's lacrosse team rallied to beat Trinity 13-11 on Saturday, April 12 in Hartford, Conn. It was the fifth consecutive win for the Panthers, who improve to 7-2 on the season and sit on top of the NESCAC standings as the lone undefeated team. Down by as many as four goals midway through the second half, Middlebury clawed its way back, scoring five unanswered goals to close out the game and secure the league victory. Dana Heritage '10 got the Panthers on the board early with a goal just 2:48 into the contest and scored the game's final goal with seven seconds remaining to seal the win. In between, she netted three goals for five on the day. Though Trinity's Caitlin Irvine also found the back of the net five times, it was Heritage and the Panthers who won the more important battle of team score. In doing so, they handed the Bantams their fourth loss of the season and pushed them back to third place in the NESCAC.Co-captain Katherine Entwisle '08 added three goals to her team-leading season total of 27, while Mimi Schatz '08 contributed with two helpers - her 13th and 14th of the season. Sally Ryan '11 picked up her 15th goal of the season, but perhaps her most important of the season, as it gave the Panthers the lead with just over five minutes remaining. It turned out to be the game-winner. Middlebury returns to Kohn Field for three games in eight days, including a Saturday morning contest against Wesleyan at 11 a.m. Women's golf finishes in third place at Vassar InviteThough the women's golf team has a slightly lighter schedule in the spring, it got off to a good start, finishing third in the 10-team Vassar Invitational this past weekend, April 12-13 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. at Casperkill Country Club.While the Panthers received decidedly less coverage than Tiger Woods, Trevor Immelman or even Gary Player at the Masters, they too navigated their way around the golf course quite successfully. Middlebury was not rewarded with a green jacket, but still turned in an impressive result, finishing with a team score of 695, just 10 strokes off the champions, Williams College.Julie Ellenberger '09 carded the best two-day total of 170 (87-83), good enough for ninth place overall. First-years Jessica Bluestein and Courtney Mazzei were not far behind with scores of 172 and 175, respectively, earning them 12th- and 19th-place finishes.Middlebury still has two more tournaments this spring. This weekend, the Panthers head to the Jack Leaman's Intercollegiate tournament hosted by Amherst before heading to Williams for the season's last event on April 26-27.Jennifer Currie '08 earns NCAA bid in hammer throwJennifer Currie '08 set a new school record in the hammer throw with a distance of 162'3" on April 12 as Middlebury track and field hosted the University of Vermont on the Dragone Track and Field Complex. Currie's impressive feat qualified her for the NCAAs.Several other Middlebury athletes won their events, including Connor Wood '11 in the 400-meter, Ian O'Reilly '08 in the 800-meter and Jack Terret '11 in the 5,000-meter. The Middlebury men also competed in several events off the track - pole vault, hammer throw and javelin - and won.While most of the Panthers were competing at the home meet, Jimmy Butcher '08 and Alexandra Krieg '09 traveled to Bucknell to compete in the 10K race. Both Middlebury runners qualified for nationals.
(04/17/08 12:00am)
Author: Anna Furney After a strong start to the season, coming off of four wins in its first matches against Babson, Bates, Skidmore and Brandeis, the Middlebury women's tennis team rallied for a much-needed victory after falling to Wellesley and Williams during the past few weeks.The athleticism of Elizabeth Emery '09 and Chandra Kurien '09 was enough for the women's tennis team to come out on top with a 5-4 win over Bowdoin. The Panthers, entering the match with a ranking of ninth in the most recent ITA national poll, were expected to maintain control over the courts in play against Bowdoin, who sat well behind Middlebury in 15th position. Playing number-one singles was Claire Smyser '08, who came up short against Bowdoin's Kristin Raymond who claimed the match with a score of 6-4, 6-2. However, Smyser's teammate Emery, playing second singles for the Panthers, challenged Bowdoin's Sarah D'Ella and came out of the match with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 win. Chandra Kurien '09 and Elizabeth Stone '09 were among the other Panthers to win their matches, with scores of 6-2, 6-1 for Kurien and 6-4, 7-5 for Stone.The doubles matches went 2-1 in favor of Middleubry. Smyser and Emery, playing as the number-one team beat D'Ella and Raymond with a final score of 8-6. Although suffering a disappointing loss in number-two doubles, Middlebury's third doubles team of Kurien and Burke won 9-8 (8).Stone's strong play in the decisive sixth singles match was enough for the Panthers to claim victory over the Polar Bears.The women had little trouble with Connecticut College on Sunday, April 13, winning every game in spots one through six in the singles matches and one through three in the play in the doubles games. Notable performances came from Stone, who played 6-0, 6-0 in the fourth singles spot against Conn's Ryan McManus.Emery dominated in her match against Elyssa Emsellem, winning the game with a 6-1, 6-2 score. The women improved their record to 9-3 and a 3-1 in NESCAC. Play continues this weekend on April 20 at Amherst.
(04/10/08 12:00am)
Author: Zamir Ahmed and Peter Baumann Ultimate Frisbee team has two weeks of successThe Middlebury men's Ultimate Frisbee team has enjoyed a highly successful spring season, capturing one tournament title and reaching the finals of another over the past two weeks.The squad traveled down to Georgia for spring break, taking part in the College Southerns and High Tide tournaments. After going 6-2 at College Southerns on March 22-23, the team moved on to High Tide on March 25-27, winning all eight games on the way to taking the tournament title. After back-to-back wins to open the event, the team reeled off four straight 13-8 victories before clobbering Union 13-2 in the semifinals. The final against St. Olaf was a back-and-forth battle for the first half before Middebury pulled away for good, winning 13-7.Coming off its victory over spring break, the team hit the road once again, heading to New Haven, Conn. last weekend for the Yale Cup, which featured the 20 best teams in the Northeast. After going 1-3 in pool play on April 5, Middlebury went on a tear through the bracket. The squad defeated Vermont and Wesleyan in the first two rounds before edging Harvard 10-9 in the semifinals, avenging an earlier loss in the tournament. In the finals, the team lost a close one to Williams, 13-11, to finish in second place.Softball sweeps Skidmore, then is swept by R.P.I. After splitting its four games since its return from Ft. Myers, Fla., the softball team now boasts a 7-7 record as it heads into the meat of its NESCAC schedule. Last Wednesday, the Panthers traveled to Skidmore for a doubleheader against the Thoroughbreds. Middlebury jumped out to an early lead in the opener, scoring four runs in the first two innings on its way to a 5-3 victory. With co-captain Katelyn Cannella '08 sidelined with a shoulder injury, Megan Margel '11 and Leslie Crawford '11 picked up the slack offensively. Margel finished the day 3-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored and Crawford added two runs of her own. Co-captain Brittany Burke '08 was superb in the circle, scattering eight hits over seven innings while striking out three. The Middlebury lineup came out even stronger in game two, scoring 11 runs on 15 hits. Margel had another stellar game offensively, picking up six RBIs while going 5-for-6 at the plate. Geena Constantin '11 continued Middlebury's pitching prowess, giving up only one earned run in her seven innings on the way to an easy 11-3 victory. This Tuesday, the Panthers took the field looking to continue their winning ways against RPI. Unfortunately, the Panthers found the hosts to be much less accommodating than the Thoroughbreds from a week earlier. The Cardinals bounced out to an early 5-0 lead in the opener behind an early home run from Jen Bach, and then weathered a late Panther rally to earn a 5-3 victory. Middlebury received another strong outing from Burke, who gave up five runs on six hits, while also going 2-for-3 at the plate.In the second game, Middlebury pitcher Ali McAnaney '11 gave up only three runs over six innings, but it was not enough as the Panthers were only able to scrape across one of their own against the 15-3 Cardinals. The loss dropped Middlebury to .500 on the year.The Panthers return to action this weekend, hosting a series against Wesleyan. The team will play a single game Friday at 5 p.m. before taking the field Saturday for a twinbill. The first game of that double-header is scheduled to begin at noon.
(04/10/08 12:00am)
Author: Ilana Prior The Office of Admissions sent out letters of acceptance to over 1,400 prospective students on March 28. This year, the College saw the largest applicant pool ever, with 7,823 prospective students vying for 570 September-enrollment spots in the Class of 2012, and 90 February-admission spots for the Class of 2012.5. The acceptance rate was a mere 18 percent, down five percent from last year. The number of applicants has nearly doubled in five years, while class sizes have remained relatively stable. Bob Clagett, dean of Admissions, said that the increase in applicants has made this a "really tough year to be admitted to Middlebury." Clagett believed that recognition of Middlebury as one of the best liberal-arts schools in the country is growing, in part because "the international studies, environmental studies and foreign language programs are resonating really deeply with people in the country and the world."The extensive travel of the admissions staff within the United States has also greatly increased the College's profile. In recent years, the staff has concentrated particularly on the southern, southwestern and western regions of the U.S. These are areas where high-school graduates typically attend college at lower rates and prefer to stay in-state. The results of this effort are evident - while the Northeast, Midwest, mid-Atlantic and South all had between a four- and six-percent increase in the number of applications, applications from the Southwest region increased a dramatic 25 percent from last year. In addition, the admissions staff has made efforts to connect with urban outreach organizations to reach lower-income students and students of color. This move is part of the College's plan to increase diversity and to dissolve the perception among some that Middlebury's student body is overwhelmingly Caucasian. The result was a 13 percent increase in applicants who identify themselves as students of color. More than 1,000 students of color applied this year, while only 526 applied three years ago. International applicants accounted for more than 18 percent of the pool, a 23 percent increase from 2007. Large numbers of international students have traditionally attended Middlebury, but Clagett accredited the recent increase to the travel of the admissions staff. He also noted that Middlebury is well-known internationally because of its connection with the United World Colleges, whose students come from around the globe.In addition to Middlebury's increasing popularity, the admissions staff was more conservative with the number of admitted students this year. The Class of 2011 had a very high yield of students who chose to attend Middlebury once admitted. Rather than risk over-enrolling, the College now has a waitlist that will most likely continue far into the summer. However, Clagett is "quite confident that we wouldn't have a higher yield than last year … it was a [watershed moment]." Both Harvard and Princeton dropped their early admissions programs two years ago, adding additional pressure to the applicant pool. Students who would have been accepted to one of those schools in past years are now applying to schools like Middlebury. As a result, the applicant pool was not only larger, but was also composed of more highly qualified students. "I was pretty much not accepted to any of the Ivy League schools," said Yash Chopra, a senior at The Key School in Annapolis, Md., "and I was expecting to get into Georgetown [University]." Despite Chopra's rejection from Georgetown, he has been accepted to the College's Class of 2012.Chopra applied to 10 schools. "The increasing number of applicants makes it easier to apply to more schools," he explained, "especially with the Common [Application], which Middlebury is on." He also noted that it seems like it was easier for students in past years to get into college, as friends with similar GPAs and SAT scores got into colleges from which he was deferred.
(03/20/08 12:00am)
Author: Alex Garlick In the spirit of the brilliant "Stuff White People Like" blog, I'd like to provide a guide for any outsiders that encounter Middlebury people.1. John McCardell - McCardell is not just liked - he is loved, nearly four years since his assumption of "Emeritus." In terms of notable figures from the 1990s, it goes Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Michael Jordan and John McCardell.2. Not caring about the U.S.News Rankings - The best item on the Middlebury Web site is an annual variation of "Middlebury moves up three spots, not that we give a flying f---." 3. An Advisor - A professor is just a professor, unless at some point during sophomore year he or she is elevated to advisor, which is a rank above spiritual mentor but below guru. 4. Hiking Boots - This especially applies to tenured professors. Middlebury people need to be prepared at all times if there is a blizzard on the way to Bicentennial Hall or an impromptu hike up Snake Mountain breaks out. 5. Abbreviations - Bi-Hall, WAGS, Proc. Middlebury people are much more comfortable with abbrevs.6. Proof that you play for an Athletic Department-sanctioned team - All that is required is a pair of sweats that list your clothing size and the year it was first issued and maybe an oversized ice pack that is affixed with saran wrap. It helps if you don't show up at Atwater until 10 minutes before closing time.7. Study Abroad - This is number 72 on the original blog, but Middlebury people freaking love study abroad. The new being on-campus is being off-campus. Study abroad is the closest way for Middlebury people to get closer to God or total enlightenment.8. Not going to Dartmouth - If ever stuck in an uncomfortable discussion with Middlebury people about college admission or SAT scores, use the following phrase - "Getting deferred (or rejected) at Dartmouth was the best thing to ever happen to me." Nodding and a discussion of the pratfalls of Greek life will ensue.9. Complaining about the administration hampering social life - That's right, it is Liebowitz's fault that no one can - insert: get hammered, get laid, have fun, or socially climb - anymore.11. Taking a year off - It doesn't matter if you do it before or after college, taking a year off makes you a better person. A year off plus studying abroad - number seven - will get Middlebury people laid, regardless of what Liebowitz does.10. Dropping Pre-Med - Middlebury people realize that the world already has plenty of doctors, and that they don't want to spend this entire decade in med school. However, a year off could remedy this situation.12. Carhartts - There is no social situation in which it is inappropriate for Middlebury people to wear Carhartts. A nice black pair would do well for both weddings and funerals.13. Raising Awareness - This is a biggie. If you want to have a true impact in this world, raise the awareness of people who already pay $50,000 annually to learn about the world. Climate change and the UN Millennium Development goals are good places to start. 14. Nalgenes - Middlebury people who do not use Nalgenes support global warming and may have stock in Exxon Mobil. It's preferable for Middlebury people to decorate their Nalgenes with stickers proving that they took a year off and/or studied abroad. The only acceptable alternative is a metal bottle with a screw top, which is like driving a Prius. 15. Dropping IP&E - The IP&E program is like making out at McCullough - many Middlebury people start there, but it's not where anyone ends up. 16. Dispatch - The only thing that would have made them better is if John McCardell had been on percussion. Finally, if you're ever in distress around Middlebury people, discuss your love for Barack Obama.Alex Garlick is '08.5 is a Political Science and Economics major from Needham, Mass.
(03/13/08 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Patterson When John Sullivan '10 reached the top step of the team bus, thereby sidestepping the blustery gusts of wintry Waterville wind, he grinned and said, "It's going to be a little windy today, with a chance of a NESCAC championship."Middlebury, the winner of the previous four conference titles, had to like its chances of securing a fifth. But after losing an hour of sleep - to Daylight's Savings Time - the Panthers lost to Trinity College 3-2 in double overtime on Sunday. Going into the tournament, most people did not think the sixth-seeded team from Hartford, Conn. stood a chance, but in the end it was Trinity fans that were standing and applauding from Alfond Arena's bleachers. The Bantams were not the team anyone wanted to play after all. They had knocked out third-seeded Bowdoin and top-ranked Colby before defeating the second-seeded Panthers in the finals.On the Panthers' 304-mile bus ride home there was still a slim chance they would earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, but when signs for Rutland came into view, the team learned that it would be stuck on the outside looking in. Elmira (19-3-5), Manhattanville (18-6-3), Hobart (18-7-2) and Wisconsin-Stout (18-8-3) earned the four at-large bids.Behind the outstanding goaltending of Wesley Vesprini, the Bantams were able to withstand scoring chance after Panther scoring chance as they kept Middlebury off of the scoreboard for the final 73:51 of the game. Since their goalie was using his quick glove to save shot after shot, the Bantams were able to finally cash in when Josh Rich netted the golden goal. Vesprini was undoubtedly the evening's star. True to form, he clamped down the Middlebury attack even tighter and tighter as the game wore on. The end of the game certainly has been Vesprini's time to shine. On average this year, his first as a collegiate hockey player, he did not allow goals in the final 29:19 of the game.In the first meeting between the two teams on Feb. 2 - a 4-1 loss at Trinity - Vesperini allowed a Jed MacDonald '08 goal 1:13 into the first period, but nothing the rest of the way. With Rich's successful shot Sunday, three hours and five minutes after the first face-off, Trinity players ripped off their facemasks and jumped into a pig pile at center ice. They had won their second-ever conference championship and had stolen the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. There was no way they were going to get into the national competition if they had not won the automatic qualifier.The Panthers, on the other hand, looked like they were entering a church for a funeral service. Their season had ended too soon.It turns out the last time the Panthers had played a game on March 9, it was also against the Bantams in the NESCAC championship game. And Trinity won that one in 2003 too, 4-2.Sunday's game was more like last year's national championship final than anything else, though. Against Oswego State on March 21, 2007, the Panthers held a 2-1 lead - just like they did on Sunday - only to see it slip away when Garren Reisweber scored his second goal of the game in overtime. Rich, like Reisweber, was the opposition's first and last goal scorer. When the last one went in, in both cases, it was the last game of the season for the Panthers.Co-captain Scott Bartlett '08 had two first period goals, but Rich's two - his second and third of the year - were more valuable.Other than the 2-1 victory over Amherst the day before - where they "played with confidence, emotion and a lot of passion," said head coach Bill Beaney, and won thanks to a Jamie McKenna '09 goal with 3:06 left in the third period - Middlebury had lost its previous game at Alfond Arena 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 12 2007.What lies ahead, now, are lighter evenings and even lighter hockey bags.
(03/13/08 12:00am)
Author: Emma Gardner On Monday, March 10, the women's hockey team learned that winning is not everything - at least in the NESCAC championship. After an unexpected loss to Colby in the semifinals of the NESCAC championship by a score of 3-2 in overtime on Saturday, March 8, the Panthers believed their chance of competing in the NCAA Division III tournament was all but lost. At noon on Monday, however, the team received word that its impressive performance during the regular season had earned it an at-large bid to play in the championship after all. In addition to this heartening news, the women learned that they are to play the quarterfinal round against Manhattanville on the Panthers' home ice at Kenyon Arena.With this week's considerable surge in their morale, the women look to last Saturday's game as a tough lesson in aggression rather than a devastating loss. Though they spent the week leading up to NESCACs with a complete focus on the Colby system, watching game tapes in practice and mastering Colby's style of play, nothing could prepare the Panthers for Laura Anning's NESCAC record-setting goal scored 15 seconds into the first period of the game. Just 1:14 later, Colby's Dana Yerigan earned another point for her team that gave the Mules the confidence to stand up to the Panthers.At 17:23, 2008 NESCAC Player of the Year Annmarie Cellino '09 put Middlebury on the scoreboard with the assistance of the conference's Rookie of the Year Anna McNally '11 on the power play. Randi Dumont '09 tied the game 4:37 into the second period, instilling renewed hope into the hearts of the Middlebury fans who had braved the treacherous roads to come out and watch the top-seeded Panthers play.Still, the team failed to rally sufficiently as almost 50 shots on Colby's goal yielded only two successful breakthroughs. While the Panthers were quick to recognize Colby's game plan of "packing" its defense around the net and creating a human wall around goaltender Lacey Brown, their difficulty lay in figuring out a way to infiltrate the goal."We had great opportunities and didn't take advantage of our shots," said Lani Wright '10, who is ranked fourth among the nation's Division III goaltenders but watched the game from the bench. The Mules, on the other hand, "capitalized on their chances and pounced on our mistakes," said WrightThe third period came and went as an unrelenting contest for the net continued well into overtime, and tensions accumulated on the ice. Players from the Amherst and Trinity teams - who were scheduled to play later that day - filed into the arena to watch the action after learning that the meeting they had expected was in fact turning out to be a different game.It was Colby rookie Liz Osgood who ended the game by netting the third and final point for her team. This one snuck past goaltender Lexi Bloom '11 on the power play, 13:16 into overtime. Ultimately, "their system worked well against our system," said Ashley Bairos '10, who added that, "we're going to learn our lesson and not make the same mistakes again."Colby suffered a crushing 7-1 defeat at the hands of the Amherst Lady Jeffs the following afternoon, and this loss may well have been a result of Saturday's exhausting game against the Panthers. "We played hard, we played with heart and we gave it everything we had," said Wright.Now that they have secured the coveted bid for a chance at the national championship, the Panthers have high aspirations for the rest of the season - while at the same time maintaining a realistic view of what lies ahead. Because Middlebury is ranked higher than Manhattanville in regular-season results, the game is scheduled at home, and the prospect of playing in front of their fans presents an exciting morale boost for the women. "This game is going to be a huge battle," said Bairos. "We will not let Saturday happen again and when we get a chance to score, it will go in the net.""Going to NCAAs was highly uncertain," continued Bairos, "and we're lucky to be going, not to mention playing at home. We have been given a gift, and we will definitely be taking advantage of this opportunity."
(03/13/08 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] To the Editor:In legitimate newspapers, which adhere to journalistic standards, editors are required to present their changes to each writer before publishing the changes. In legitimate newspapers, gratuitous graphic sexual commentary hardly exists. The Middlebury Campus separates itself from legitimate publications, as it does not adhere to these guidelines. Two weeks ago, the "Winners and Losers" column in the Features section contained a comment about a sex toy workshop here at Middlebury under the "winners" column, and under the "losers" column, a comment about masturbation on lonely Friday nights was written. Although the by-line of the column contained Mia Lieb-Lappen's name as well as my own, we do not own these words or ideas rather, the features editor does. Instead of this highly sexual comment, Mia and I had written about Kosovo gaining independence from Serbia. We had not even attended the sex toy workshop. The features editor did not ask permission before she replaced our comments about foreign affairs with her opinions about sex toys and her assertions about masturbation habits on lonely Friday nights. Not only did this irresponsible action needlessly embarrass me and Mia, but it has also led me to question the legitimacy of The Middlebury Campus and its ability to responsibly provide accurate and legitimate articles and commentary to the Middlebury community. In my opinion, people who are interested in seeking extraneous sexual content would be better off to rely on pornographic magazines rather than their school newspaper. The Middlebury Campus made an important statement about its standards by publishing graphic sexual comments in place of world news, and by inappropriately and falsely attributing the sexual comments to Mia and me. Adding insult to injury, the leadership of The Middlebury Campus has not printed a retraction, a correction or an apology, and has left it to me to correct the record by writing this letter to the editor. I hope these words will be published unchanged.Sincerely,Molly Dwyer '10Editor's Note:In the Feb. 28 issue of The Campus one portion of Winners and Losers, located in the Features section, was written by editors of the section. The Campus apologizes for this misattribution. The newspaper reserves the right to edit any work submitted for publication as it sees fit, but in a manner that accurately reflects the authorship of our content. To the Editor:I'm writing in response to the article written about the Middlebury Open Queer Alliance's (MOQA) involvement with the Red Cross last week concerning blood drives and the discriminatory practice of banning all men who have ever had sexual relations with other men ("Protest, forum clot blood drive," March 6). While I felt that Annabelle Fowler did an incredible job of relating MOQA's efforts to the community, I thought the title (which I have since learned was not her decision) was abrasive and not representative of the article itself. First of all, MOQA did not protest the Red Cross, but instead engaged them in conversation within an open forum to discuss the discrimination they are forced to practice. People who attended the forum know that it was not a hostile environment, and it ended with the Red Cross and Middlebury College planning what activism can be done together to end the FDA's ban on gay and bisexual men. I was especially alarmed by the words "clot blood drive" as if to say that MOQA tried to hinder the drive. As co-president of the Middlebury Open Queer Alliance, I was the organizer of all of our efforts. Part of our activism included recruiting able donors to sponsor a gay student and donate in his honor. Dave Carmichael, the coordinator of blood drives in our area, was impressed with my organization because we promoted awareness to a challenging issue in a new and positive way and also made this one of the most successful blood drives in college history. To quote a letter that Mr. Carmichael sent to me, "We were able to collect 107 productive units of blood from the 125 individuals that presented to donate. That was our first drive over 100 units at the college in our last 4 visits and it was a 40.7% increase over what we did last semester! No doubt, the added attention to the drive that you and MOQA provided contributed to our success." It is obvious to me that MOQA did just the opposite of what that title suggests, and I feel The Campus, which has done such a fantastic job of covering MOQA's events in the past, should own up to this mistake. Sincerely, Ryan Tauriainen '08 Co-President of the Middlebury Open Queer AllianceTo the Editor:We are pleased to learn that the Appeals Committee has responded favorably to Professor Laurie Essig's appeal of her reappointment decision and that the case will be revisited by the Reappointments Committee and the President. This creates a wonderful opportunity for the College to retain a gifted and talented teacher and thereby fulfill a central facet of the liberal arts educational mission.1. Darién Davis, History Department2. Juana Gamero de Coca, Spanish and Portuguese Department3. Gloria Estela Gonzalez, Spanish and Portuguese Department4. Roman Graf, German Department5. Bill Hart, History Department6. Barbara Hofer, Psychology Department7. Jon Isham, Economics Department8. Antonia Losano, English Department9. Ana Martinez-Lage, Spanish and Portuguese Department10. Timi Mayer, Geography Department11. Claudio Medeiros, Theatre Department12. Sujata Moorti, Program in Women's and Gender Studies13. Kevin Moss, Russian Department14. Kamakshi Murti, German Department15. Peggy Nelson, Sociology-Anthropology Department16. William Poulin-Deltour, French Department17. Robert Prasch, Economics Department18. Burke Rochford, Sociology-Anthropology Department19. Patricia Saldarriaga, Spanish and Portuguese Department20. Paula Schwartz, French Department21. Michael Sheridan, Sociology-Anthropology Department22. Yumna Siddiqi, English Department23. Stephen Snyder, Japanese Department24. David Stoll, Sociology-Anthropology Department25. Hector Vila, Writing Program26. Susan Watson, Physics Department27. Linda White, East Asian Studies Program28. Martha Woodruff, Philosophy Department29. Catharine Wright, Writing Program 30. Ellen Oxfeld, Sociology-Anthropology Department
(02/21/08 12:00am)
Author: Tamara Hilmes Three people were killed on Feb. 13 in a two-car collision on U.S. Route 7 just north of Middlebury. The near head-on collision occurred late Wednesday morning a little before 11 a.m., Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley said in a Feb. 14 article in The Rutland Herald entitled "Route 7 crash kills 3."The fatal accident occurred when a southbound blue Chevrolet Cavalier, driven by Dereck Busier, 31, crossed the center line of the road, lost control and hit the oncoming, northbound green Jeep of James P. Dunn of Salisbury. Busier, as well as his two passengers, Jennifer Traverse, 28, and Justin Traverse, 10, were killed in the collision. All were of Bristol, Vt. Dunn was taken to Porter Hospital and then Fletcher-Allen Health Care, and though he sustained serious injuries, he is expected to survive.According to Hanley, the Chevy Cavalier was basically crushed side-to-side and the damage was such that the victims had to be extricated from the vehicle in a garage at the Middlebury Police headquarters. As reported by the Herald, a leak in the gas tank prevented it from being done on the scene of the accident.The collision occurred just north of Middlebury on Route 7 close to Hendry Brothers, a farm and lawn equipment supplier, near the New Haven town line around 10:40 a.m. on Feb. 13. Police are still unsure as to what might have caused the blue sedan to have lost control and skidded sideways as it did. It is speculated that the slushy road conditions may have resulted in hydroplaning, although police are still attempting to reconstruct the accident, as well as confirm vehicle speeds.After the accident occurred, the section of Route 7 stretching from Exchange Street in Middlebury to River Road was closed off for a period of two hours while crews continued to clear the scene of the accident. The blue sedan was placed under tarps and loaded onto a flatbed truck and taken to the Middlebury Police Department, and the green Jeep was placed in the impound lot at the police department. Once cleared, the road was reopened to traffic around 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.Hanley was unavailable to comment on any updates to the investigation of the collision or Dunn's status when the paper went to print.
(02/21/08 12:00am)
Author: Matt Ferrer Put another check on the Middlebury men's squash team's "to-do" list. This past weekend the Panthers competed in the National tournament for the first time ever as a varsity program. And although they finished the weekend with a losing record, the experience of competing as a varsity team was invaluable.Fifty-one teams from across the country entered the event, including all the NESCAC schools, all the Ivy League schools and schools like Stanford and UVA. Ranked 21st in the nation coming in, Middlebury was grouped in the Third Division with Tufts, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Denison, Northeastern, Stanford and St. Lawrence. Having accumulated a combined team record of 2-4 against those teams (not having played Stanford) during the regular season, the men had their work cut out for them.Looking for revenge after an 8-1 loss to Hamilton only two weeks ago, the men's team came out hungry. Victories from Gordon McMorris '08.5, Micah Wood '10 and co-captain Will Carroll '07.5 showed Middlebury's mettle. However, 20th-ranked Hamilton proved to be too much as they battled their way to a 6-3 victory. Despite the loss, Coach John Illig said, "we played very well," and hinted that there was reason to be optimistic for the rest of the weekend.Hoping to ride that wave of optimism, the men took to the courts against NESCAC rival Wesleyan the next day. Having already handed the Cardinals a 7-2 loss earlier this season, the Panthers were confident they would come away with another crushing victory. And, paced once again by victories from Wood and McMorris, with additional wins by Elliot Jia '10 and Jesse Davidson '08, Middlebury appeared in good position to continue its dominance. However, confidence may have given way to arrogance as the men ended up falling 5-4. "We were very uninspired during the middle match," said Illig, "and thus we didn't play as well, which was disappointing."So, with one match left on the weekend, the men their toughest opponent yet. Ranked 19th in the nation, Denison had already eked out a tight 5-4 victory over Middlebury in January. With its top four players each losing in three games, the Panthers looked to the bottom half of their roster to provide a much-needed spark. Led by Carroll in the five-spot, Middlebury rattled off four victories from the five-nine players. Wood, playing in the seven-spot, completed his impressive weekend with yet another victory to finish his first National tournament with an unblemished individual record of 3-0. Other victories from Davidson and William Piekos '11 got the Panthers close but weren't enough as Denison once again pulled out a 5-4 victory.Although a record of 0-3 on the weekend was disappointing for the Panthers, Illig was proud of his team. "We learned a lot from this past weekend, and we learned what it takes to succeed at nationals," he said. "None of the teams let up, there, and everyone comes at you hard. All in all, it was a fantastic year. Our sites are set high for next season." And with the return of Wood, who finished 14-7 on the season, Piekos, and the Panthers' four best players J.P. Sardi '09, Brian Cady '11, McMorris and Jia, Coach Illig and the rest of the team have all the reason to be looking forward to building upon their overall 11-13 record.
(01/10/08 12:00am)
Author: Emma Gardner As students slipped clumsily on the icy campus paths this weekend, the Middlebury women's hockey team gracefully mastered the ice at Kenyon Arena with two successive victories - a 3-0 shutout of fifth-ranked R.I.T. on Saturday, Jan. 5 and a 4-2 win against Utica College 24 hours later. The two victories improved the team's record to 7-1-1 on the season.Starting off Winter Term with success was no accident. The team practiced intensively over the holidays, holding two-a-day practices so that they would be ready to face the Tigers and the Pioneers with confidence on Saturday and Sunday. Demonstrating the attitude that Head Coach Bill Mandigo has tried to cultivate in his players throughout the season, the women "face every game as though it's a big game, no matter what," said Lani Wright '10, who blocked 25 shots against R.I.T. in what was her first shutout of the year. "We are taught not to underestimate any team, and because Utica had just beaten Amherst, who we tied this season, Sunday's game was definitely a big one." While R.I.T. appeared physically aggressive on Saturday, Middlebury put its home-ice advantage to use in handling Kenyon's large surface to skate past the Tigers, whose rink in Rochester is significantly smaller. "Speed was our biggest advantage," said Wright.With the assistance of Jessica Bennett '10 and Kristen Wilson '11, first-year Julia Ireland put Middlebury on the board with a goal 5:39 into the second period, followed closely by insurance goals from Erika Nakamura '09 and Nora Bergman '11. As all three goals were scored within five minutes, the second period of the game provided the most action.While fans watched the players battle against each other for a chance at the goal, the RIT offense lost confidence in the third period, managing only two shots, both of which Wright easily turned aside.The outcome of Sunday's game, on the other hand, proved uncertain until the very end. While rookie Andrea Buono '11 scored the first goal of her college career 18:04 into the game, the second period goals of Utica's Samantha Glockling and Sara George put the Pioneers up 2-1. Rejecting the possibility of defeat, the women rallied. With an assist from Nakamura, assistant captain Tania Kenny '08 tied the game before the end of the second period, and the team emerged in the third with renewed confidence. Middlebury skated by the Utica defenders to bombard the goal with shots. Driving through Pioneer goaltender Kelley Peers, Heather McCormack '10 netted the winning goal, followed by Margaret MacDonald '08, who scored shortly after to ensure a Panther victory. Goalie Lexi Bloom '11 stopped 13 of the 15 shots she saw to keep Utica from scoring after the second period.
(12/06/07 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Twist O'Wool GuildWhat is your skill level in constructing and decorating drop spindles, making knitted I-cord candy canes and weaving heart ornaments. Up to par? No? Mmm, yeah, that's what we thought. Good thing the American Legion is holding Christmas mini-workshops on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at their location on Boardman Street. Remedy your lack of holiday craft saviness, and drop off some hats, mittens and scarfs for the American Legion Children's Christmas Party while you're there.Otter Creek Brewing Art OpeningLocal cheese. Snazzy art. Free beer. Any objections? Head on over to Otter Creek Brewing on Exchange Street on Dec. 7 from 5-6 p.m. for an art opening featuring artist Karrie Root. In case Vermont Smoke and Cure sausage and pepperoni isn't enough to lure you, snag Rural Vermont's latest cookbook along the way, featuring local ingredients and benefitting a non-profit organization dedicated to healthy communities. For more information, call 388-0727.Lights of Love Lighting Don't let your precious pooch or favorite feline be neglected in the midst of all of this holiday cheer - the token dog bone wrapped in a ribbon simply will not do. On Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m., the Addison County Human Society will hold an open house and ceremony to honor family pets. The requisite hot chocolate, snacks, bonfire and, yes, Christmas carols will all be provided (and your pet goldfish will stop pouting glumly at you through the glass of its dusty bowl - well, maybe). For more information, call 388-1100.Night Fires in BristolCelebrate the winter solstice in a modern incarnation with roots in ancient traditions. On Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Holley Hall in Bristol will hold its "Night Fires" event, comprised by an opera interspersed with poetry, dance and, organizers claim, "color, image and spirit." Get there early to pay admission and enjoy the pre-show singers. For more information, call 863-1024 or send an e-mail to soverby@sover.net."Love, Sex and the IRS" ...... a blend only feasible, it would seem, within the bounds of the Vergennes Opera House. See if the show - which details the misadventures of a scheming man so intent on saving money on taxes that he poses as another man's wife - is as intriguing as its title suggests. Showings are at 8 p.m. on Dec. 13-15. Tickets, which are $10 for students, may be purchased online at www.flynntix.org or by calling 802-863-5966.
(11/15/07 12:00am)
Author: Benji Thurber Middlebury claimed its first outright NESCAC football championship on Saturday, Nov. 10, defeating Tufts on the road, 21-19. The Panthers ended their season with a 7-1 record, finishing a game ahead of both Trinity and WilliamsMiddlebury used a balanced performance by its offense, defense and special teams to attain the victory against the Jumbos and complete its best season since 2000, when the Panthers shared the NESCAC title with Amherst and Colby by posting a similar 7-1 mark. The Jumbos, who entered the game with a chance to force a first-place tie, concluded their year at 5-3. After falling behind 21-6, Tufts forged a late comeback that came up just short. According to head coach Bob Ritter, the players were able to achieve their goal of winning the title by staying focused on each individual game but also "enjoying the moment." The Panthers wasted no time in putting points on the board. On the opening kickoff, Middlebury's Dan Haluska '10 forced a fumble, which Andrew Poulin '11 recovered at the Tufts 33-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Donald McKillop '11, who completed 17 of 29 passes for 150 yards and two scores, found tight end Charles Holm '09 with a two-yard touchdown pass.The Jumbos responded promptly. They used a 55-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to gain great field position, and capitalized when quarterback Matt Russo, who threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns, hit Stephen Black for a nine-yard score. Tufts missed the extra point attempt, however, the first of two failed extra point kicks that would prove to be the difference in the game. Middlebury added to its lead midway through the second quarter, as David Randolph '08, who finished with 74 rushing yards, capped an 11-play, 67-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush for a 14-6 lead that they would take into the half. The Panthers opened the second half the same way they did the first - with a scoring drive on their first possession. McKillop threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Holm, who led Middlebury with six receptions for 68 yards, to increase the lead to 21-6. Tufts answered on its next drive. Russo completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Black to cut the Panthers' lead to 21-12 with 6:47 remaining in the quarter. The Jumbos again failed to convert the extra point, though, thanks to a block by the Panthers' Bill Greven '10. Middlebury did not score again, but controlled the rest of the game with effective running by Randolph and McKillop. The Panthers dominated the second half time of possession 20:25 to 9:35. Tufts sustained a successful drive late, as Russo found Black for their third touchdown connection of the game. After the extra point, the Jumbos found themselves down two with 0:55 remaining. They attempted an onside kick, but the Panthers recovered and ran out the clock. Middlebury was able to hold onto the lead in large part because of a defense that had two sacks and forced four turnovers. Erik Woodring '08 paced the Panthers with 18 tackles and also forced and recovered a fumble. Nathan Clancy '08 added nine tackles and an interception. Safety Frank Granara '08 led the secondary with three pass breakups and an interception. Woodring believes that the team was able to improve over the course of the season by building off of its success. "The win over Trinity in Week Six was a huge confidence boost for our team," he said. "We knew from that point forward that we were capable of playing at a championship level." Woodring also set a Middlebury career record for tackles in the game, finishing with 307, but tried to deflect attention away from this individual achievement. "It felt great to break the tackles record, but it felt much better to win the NESCAC championship with the other 13 seniors, in our final game together," said Woodring.
(10/18/07 12:00am)
Author: Benji Thurber The visiting Williams Ephs overcame a onepoint halftime deficit to hand the Middlebury Panthers their first loss of the season, 30-22, on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Ephs, who improved to 2-2 on the season, relied on a relentless running game to take control of the second half. The Panthers, who fell to 3-1 and down to second place in the NESCAC standings behind Tufts, amassed over 400 yards of total offense but turned the ball over five times."We had a lot of yards, but we were not an efficient offense," said Head Coach Bob Ritter. "We made some great plays, but we also robbed ourselves of opportunities to get into the end zone. A good team like Williams will make you pay for that. The defense played very well for the first three quarters, but once they got the lead and could be patient, they wore us down a bit."After a bad snap by the Panthers on fourth down led to a short punt, the Ephs began their first drive at the Middlebury 40-yard line. On their second play from scrimmage, running back Brian Morrissey bounced to the outside of the field and found room to run for 34 yards into the end zone. Williams' Scott Sobolewski converted the extra point attempt, putting the Ephs up 7-0 early.On two straight possessions, Middlebury quarterback Donald McKillop '11, the reigning NESCAC Rookie of the Week, drove the Panthers into the Ephs' territory but threw an interception that ended the drive. The Middlebury defense, which did not allow Williams to capitalize on any of the Panthers' four first half turnovers, forced the Ephs to punt each time. With 13:55 remaining in the second quarter, Middlebury was finally able to capitalize. McKillop capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown pass to a diving Andrew Matson '09 in the right corner of the end zone (see photo story, page 24). Anthony Kuchan '11 converted the extra point to tie the game 7-7. On the first play of the Panthers' next drive, running back David Randolph '08, who ran for 124 yards on 14 carries, broke loose for an 83-yard run. Gary Cooper '11 ran up the middle for a two-yard touchdown on the next play, and Kuchan kicked another extra point to put the Panthers up 14-7. Williams immediately responded with an 11-play, 73-yard drive, culminating in a three-yard touchdown run by Morrissey with 5:39 left in the second quarter. Panther linebacker Erik Woodring '08 blocked the extra point attempt, allowing Middlebury to maintain a 14-13 lead at halftime.Williams regained the lead with 5:22 left in the third quarter by grinding out an 11-play scoring drive that took nearly five and a half minutes off the clock. The Ephs used eight running plays, ending with a two-yard touchdown rush by Brian Egan, to build a 20-14 advantage. The Panthers looked to answer back on their next possession at the start of the fourth quarter, but were unable to convert on fourth-and-one on the Williams 23 and turned the ball over on downs. Williams pushed the lead to 23-14 on a Sobolewski field goal with 10:33 remaining, and after the desperate Panthers turned the ball over on downs on the Middlebury 25, Morrissey, who finished with 27 carries for 137 yards, added to the lead with his third rushing touchdown of the game.Down 30-14, McKillop led a 14-play scoring drive, finding Matson in the corner of the opposite end zone. The Panthers completed a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 30-22 with 1:10 left, but were unable to recover the onside kick and the Ephs ran out the clock. Matson, who had 11 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns, believes that the young Panther offense, despite its success, is still developing. "We believe in each other, and everyone in the unit is focused and determined to win," said Matson. "That said, we still have to sharpen up a bit and cut down on mistakes as we go deeper into the season." Woodring led the Panthers with 19 tackles and a fumble recovery and Brian Marcks '09 added 12 tackles.The Panthers' McKillop completed 26 of 45 passes for 223 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions, and his Williams counterpart, Patrick Lucey, completed 18 of 30 passes for 171 yards and one interception.The Panthers will look to rebound on Oct. 20 when they travel to play Bates. The next home game is the following Saturday, when Trinity College comes to Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium.
(10/10/07 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] Vermont Skydiving AdventuresDoes the thought of a weekend with your parents make you want to jump out of a plane? If so, you might consider seeing the fall foliage for which Vermont is famous from a whole new angle. Leap on over to Vermont Skydiving Adventures, located at 4369 Rt. 17 in West Addison, Vt. for an uncoventional family bonding experience. Open from 9 a.m. to sunset all weekend, you'll have plenty of time to make the jump between lunch and Capitol Steps. (Don't forget your parachute!)Who needs Fire and Ice? Try some moose. If you are having trouble getting a table at one of the local eateries, consider leaving the world of reservations and menus behind and opt for a less-conventional, true-Vermont meal. Take a look at the many hearty dinners being served up on Saturday, Oct. 13:-Roast Pork Supper at the Salisbury Congregational Church at 4:45, 6 or 7:15 p.m.-Homegrown Dinner in Shoreham, 5-8 p.m. (No location was specified, but the town isn't that big...)-Turkey Dinner at the United Methodist Church in Brandon, 5-7 p.m.-Wild Game Dinner in Neshobe Sportsman clubhouse on Frog Hollow Road in Brandon, 5-7 p.m. (If you've ever wondered what moose tastes like, now's your chance to try it!)-Chicken Pie Supper at the Ferrisburgh Center Community United Methodist Church, 5:30 p.m. -Thanksgiving Supper at the United Methodist Church in Vergennes, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (They say they'll have 'all the fixings,' but does that include moose?)-Brandon Rotary Annual Rotary Dinner at the Brandon Inn, 6 p.m., social hour, 7 p.m. dinner. Embrace the CheesinessIf you thought Cabot cheese was something unique, think again. There are over 38 different cheese producers in Vermont, virtually all of whom offer visitors a glimpse at their cheesy process. If you and your parents are choosy about your cheese, follow the Vermont Cheese Trail to dairy-induced bliss:-Champlain Valley Creamery in Vergennes (802-877-2950)-Orb Weaver Farm in New Haven (802-877-3755)-Bingham's Farm in Middlebury (802-388-7249)-Twig Farm in West Cornwall (802-462-3363)
(10/04/07 12:00am)
Author: Benji Thurber The Middlebury football team kicked off its home schedule on Sept. 29 with a 41-0 win over Colby. The Panthers stymied the Mules with dominating performances from both the offense and the defense, as they moved to 2-0 on the season. The Mules, who fell to 0-2, threatened to score early in the game, but were unable to convert. After Michael Talarico recovered a Panther fumble on a punt return at the Middlebury 47-yard line with 13:35 remaining in the first quarter, Colby quarterback Billy Ryan led a drive down to the Middlebury 11. Then, however, the Panther defense made a stand. After a false start penalty on third-and-six, David Ellis '09 and Eric Kamback '10 sacked Ryan for an 11-yard loss. Rather than attempting a field goal, the Mules elected to go for it on the next play, and Panther defensive back Nathan Shreve '08 batted away a pass in the end zone to end the drive. The Panthers scored the first points of the game on the ensuing possession. On fourth down at the Middlebury 34, the Panthers faked a punt, and Steven Hardin '10 used some great blocking downfield to run for a 66-yard touchdown. Jack Britton '08 successfully converted the extra point, putting Middlebury up 7-0. On the subsequent kickoff, Andrew Poulin '11 forced a fumble, which Mike Quinn '09 recovered at the Colby 20-yard line. On the second play of the resultant drive, Panther first-year quarterback Donald McKillop connected with receiver Andrew Matson '09 for a 20 yard touchdown pass. On Colby's next possession, Panther linebacker Nathan Clancy '08 recovered a fumble by Ryan at the Colby nine-yard line. Gary Cooper '11 had a one-yard touchdown rush on fourth-and-goal, and the Panthers ended the first quarter with a 21-0 lead. A Shreve interception with 12:58 left in the second quarter led to a 31-yard scoring pass from McKillop to Matson, and an insurmountable 27-0 halftime lead. Much of the Panthers' offensive success on Saturday stemmed from the passing game, but according to head coach Bob Ritter, the running game has been equally important this season."During the Wesleyan game, we had a two touchdown lead and needed to keep our defense off the field, so we ran the ball more to control the clock in the second half," said Ritter. "The game against Colby allowed us the chance to go over the top due to great field position and the way they were playing us to stop the run." This was best exemplified by the Panthers' fifth scoring drive. With 14:34 remaining in the third quarter, McKillop again found Matson for a touchdown pass, this time after faking a handoff to confuse the defense and create separation in the secondary. Matson, who finished the game with three receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns, credits much of Middlebury's success passing the ball to its new no-huddle offense. "It keeps the defense on their heels, and it keeps us in good rhythm," said Matson. "It also helps that our receivers have a year's experience now and we have a quarterback who throws a great ball." McKillop looked very confident and was accurate in his second career start, completing 11 of 14 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown during the third quarter to finish up the Panther scoring. The combination of rushers for the Panther running game were equally effective, totaling 226 yards on 5.1 yards per carry. According to Ritter, the success of the running game can be directly linked to strong play by the offensive line. "The offensive line play has been vital in both games, and their work ethic has been an inspiration," said Ritter. Not to be forgotten amidst Saturday's offensive explosion, the Panther defense had another impressive performance, recording its fourth shutout in the last two seasons. Linebacker Erik Woodring '08 paced the defense with 15 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and also added a sack. Fellow linebacker Clancy forced a fumble and recovered two as well. Defensive lineman Ellis led the team with 1.5 sacks. Shreve led a strong performance by the secondary with an interception and a key pass breakup that prevented a score. The Colby Mules did manage to run for 140 yards and pass for 126, but were hurt by six turnovers, three of which the Panthers ended up converting into scores.The Panthers will be on the road next week to play Amherst, and will return home to face Williams on Oct. 13.
(09/12/07 12:00am)
Author: Peter Baumann Head Coach: Sarah RauneckerCaptains: Lexie Fisher '08, Olivia Minkhorst '09Save the Date: Oct. 12, when Middlebury hosts its only quad of the yearGet it Stat: 40 - Percentage of the team's 2, 463 digs co-captains Fisher and Minkhorst accounted for.A year after a 3-1 loss in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC championships to number-one seed Williams, the women's volleyball team will look to use its experience to make a deeper run in the NESCAC tournament. The majority of the major contributors from last year's 13-16 squad will return to the court and should contend in the always tightly-contested NESCAC. On the attack, the Panthers will lean on co-captain and second team All-NESCAC selection Fisher, a senior right hitter who averaged 3.53 kills per game, good enough for sixth in the league. She is supported by outside hitter Kate Heath '09, who hopes to build on a sophomore campaign where she finish second on the team with 2.7 kills per game. On defense, the Panthers are looking for co-captain Minkhorst to replicate an impressive sophomore season in which she posted 5.55 digs per game, which placed her third in the league. At the net, she will have help from Josie Keller '09, one of the team leaders last year with 1.02 blocks per game. After going 3-1 in their first quad this past weekend, the Panthers jump into NESCAC play at Tufts this weekend. The Panthers host their own quad on the weekend of Oct. 12., right before the NESCAC tournament.With a deep and experienced squad, look for the Panthers to make some noise in the NESCAC and improve on last year's impressive finish.
(05/09/07 12:00am)
Author: Andrew Donnantuono On Sunday, for the seventh consecutive season, the men's lacrosse team won the NESCAC championship. For a team which has had its share of critics throughout this year's campaign, Middlebury seemed to have little trouble finding that extra gear when NESCACs rolled around. On Sunday, Middlebury (10-6) dismantled Wesleyan (16-2) 11-6 in Medford, Mass., outscoring the Cardinals six to two in the second half to retain the title.On April 28, the Panthers lost at Tufts 7-6, completing the regular season at 0-4 in overtime contests and handing the Jumbos the first seed in the tournament. Still, Head Coach Dave Campbell '00 had confidence. "The team had their heads held high and had given their best effort," said Campbell after the game. "That's when I knew we had turned the corner and were ready to go for the NESCAC tourney." He was right. The next day, Middlebury, sitting on a 7-6 record, routed Trinity 16-4 in the quarters in what Chris Teves '10 called "our best performance of the year.""We are a completely different team mentally than we were in the middle of the season," wrote Campbell in an e-mail.This past weekend, Middlebury returned to the outskirts of Boston with momentum on its side. The Panthers had another chance on Bello Field in the semis against Tufts and a possible encounter with Wesleyan or Williams in the finals. Middlebury first beat up Tufts 8-7, a win more convincing than the score indicates, and followed up that performance by trouncing Wesleyan. In each of its three NESCAC tournament games, Middlebury avenged an overtime loss.In the championship game, Nick Bastis '07 fooled Wesleyan goalie Charlie Congleton to put up the first goal 1:54 into the first quarter. Cardinal Mike Hines responded with an unassisted goal of his own to tie it up just 38 seconds later. Even strength goals by Skyler Hopkins '09 and Matt Virtue '10 rounded out a Panther-dominated period. Middlebury attempted 16 shots with intentions to rattle Congleton early.Wesleyan used the second quarter to return the favor, tying the game in a 13-second span. First, Grayson Connors ripped one past Middlebury netminder Alex Palmisano '07, and after Wesleyan won the ensuing face-off, Jeff Strittmatter wasted no time in placing another between the pipes. After another (man-up) goal by Connors with 2:01 remaining in the third, and Wesleyan had taken a 4-3 lead.Even with a half to play, what happened in the final minute of the second quarter arguably determined the outcome of the game. Hopkins took the initiative and netted 31 seconds before intermission. Time was winding down, but Hopkins took advantage of a critical Wesleyan turnover and beat the buzzer with two seconds to spare, sending Middlebury into the break having turned a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead in the blink of an eye.Middlebury was energized and responded to the first half hat-trick by Hopkins with three consecutive goals spanning the third and fourth quarters. Pete Smith '10 assisted on two of the three. Wesleyan's zone enabled Middlebury to possess for long stretches in the third, protecting their multiple goal lead. The Panthers appeared to want the trophy more, as they won the ground ball battle in the second half by an overwhelming 23-13 margin.Kwasi Ansu put an end to the five consecutive goal streak by Middlebury when he took a feed from Jon Killeen and buried it behind Palmisano with 5:54 to go. Nevertheless, again it was Hopkins who silenced the Wesleyan sideline when he scored 35 seconds later. "We focused offensively on moving the ball and trying to keep their defense guessing so they couldn't just settle in and get comfortable," wrote Hopkins. "As a result, we were able to take good shots from close in. We finished well and did not let up."The game got chippy before the final whistle with Wesleyan drawing five penalties in the last 5:05. Despite the physical play late, Middlebury extended the lead and could celebrate again as NESCAC champions."I'm proud of our team," wrote Hopkins. "We knew that our season was on the line and we came out fired up and ready to play. This game meant a lot for our seniors and Coach Campbell."Peter Mellen '07 won 13 of the 21 face-offs he took in the championship game. Palmisano and Congleton both turned away 14 shots, but the Wesleyan goalie faced 52 balls; that is 21 more than Palmisano.Middlebury has been awarded an NCAA tournament first round home game against Mt. Ida College on May 9. Interestingly, if Middlebury can dispatch Mt. Ida, it will be pitted against Wesleyan, once again, on May 12, who had been ranked second in the Division III North Region before the NESCAC tournament.
(04/25/07 12:00am)
Author: Brooke Farquhar If you thought you had a busy weekend, talk to a softball player. The women's softball team played five games between Friday and Sunday, but somehow managed never show to signs of exhaustion.After hosting Amherst for two days, the team drove to Clinton, N.Y. to face Hamilton in a double header on Sunday. Despite the intense schedule, the level of play never faltered, and the team took four wins on the weekend to improve its NESCAC record to 5-3 and its season record to 17-9.What has defined the performance of the women's softball team since the beginning of their string of games last Wednesday is a classic, beloved theme in sports: the comeback. Whether down by the first game in a series or down by a couple of runs in the first few innings of a game, the Panthers have proven their intensity and focus by coming from behind to win five of their last seven games. A big loss and a big win marked the team's doubleheader against Plymouth State on Wednesday, April 18. The Panthers gave up a whopping 13 runs in the first game, even with home field advantage, falling 13-7. Down by a game in the series and two runs in the second inning of the second game, the women decided to turn up the heat - a lot.Lily Hamburger '08 preheated the hot bats in the second inning with a single to right center. She was also the first to come home, followed by Brittany Burke '08, Amelia Magistrali '09 and Carolyn Davis '08. The run of four runs in the second inning fueled the team's defensive play. In the final three innings of game two, the Panthers gave up only one hit to Plymouth State and, in doing so, successfully held the opposing team to its sole two runs.On Friday, the scoreboard at the softball field saw smaller numbers. The Panthers narrowly beat the Lord Jeffs by a score of 3-2.In a situation similar to that against Plymouth State on Wednesday, Amherst held a 2-0 lead over Middlebury in the second inning. While Ellen Sargent '07 did notch a run for Middlebury in the second inning, it was not until the fifth that the win was somewhat sealed. After singling to right field and stealing second, Katelyn Cannella '08 was brought home by Magistrali's triple. Maura Casey's '07 single to centerfield drove Magistrali home in the fifth as well to put the Panthers in a winning position with three runs. Of her big hit in the second of that game, Casey said, "There are always big plays in every game, but our team doesn't depend on one superstar to always be the one to pull through in a tough situation. We really play as a team."Jennifer Williams' '07 pitching solidified Middlebury's win over Amherst on Friday. In the sixth inning the Lord Jeffs stood on all three bases, but Williams held her cool to show Amherst the only comeback team on the field was her own. Williams' pitching performance continued to drive the team through the doubleheader against Amherst on Saturday. After losing game one 2-0, the Panthers again narrowly beat the Lord Jeffs 1-0 in game two. Allison Bard '08 had the lone run for the Panthers, while Williams allowed only two hits. "We had great consistent performance from everyone on the field and a lot of clutch fielding plays to stifle their offense and keep them to four runs over three games," said Sullivan. "As a team we felt we were struggling with our hitting, so the few hits necessary to pull off the wins were pretty crucial."Back-to-back doubleheaders are not easy to get through, especially when there is only one night of rest and 187 miles between them. The Panthers remained unfazed by the demanding schedule, and carried their focus into the series against Hamilton, coming out 2-0 and improving to a 5-3 NESCAC record.8-2 seems to be a good winning score for the Panthers, who beat Plymouth State by that score Wednesday and Hamilton by the same score Sunday morning. The second game against Hamilton proved to be more of a challenge, but Sullivan's three RBIs and Burke's two and two-thirds scoreless innings gave the team what it needed to defeat the Continentals. Middlebury pressed through to win 6-5. "Hamilton surprised us by bringing their bats," said Sullivan. "Fortunately, though, we hit well, too and managed to both jump on them early to secure a lead and come back when necessary."The third game of the series against Hamilton is to be played Thursday in New York. The team will certainly be able to rest before this match up, though their demanding schedule last week seemed only to give them a winning momentum."I'm really proud of the team because this week we proved that we have what it takes to win the big 1-0 games," said Sullivan. "Our plan is to finish the sweep of Hamilton on Thursday to put us at 6-3 and then sweep Wesleyan to finish NESCAC play 9-3 and definitely go on to win NESCACs."
