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(04/09/03 12:00am)
Author: Kelsey Rinehart On April 2, Middlebury College held a press conference at the Middlebury Inn to announce the findings of a recent study detailing the College's economic impact on the community. The study, conducted by Arthur Woolf and Richard Heaps of Northern Economic Consulting, Inc. (NEC), found that Middlebury College brings $125.2 million into Addison County each year and is the largest employer and largest source of wage income in the town of Middlebury and Addison County. In its 2002 list of the state's top employers, Vermont Business Magazine ranked Middlebury College at 13.In his introduction, Middlebury College President John McCardell said that the investigation was an update of a similar study released by NEC in 1996 and noted that the exclusively positive nature of the report is due to the fact that it is "a College-initiated and College-sponsored document." McCardell said that the study "is something that would benefit from regular updating," as it uses methodology to gauge the College's economic impact, addressing the question of what the College's presence means to the town. McCardell stressed the necessity of basing analysis on factual information rather than on individual viewpoints, commenting, "When issues regarding the financial relationship between the town of Middlebury and the College arise, it's important to have real data rather than opinions." McCardell continued, "Each time the word 'burden' is used, [the study] may be a corrective to those who think in those terms." Still, McCardell remarked, "The purpose of this document is impossible to define." After briefly summarizing the study's findings, McCardell introduced Woolf, as well as Executive Director of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, Linda Stearns.Woolf then explained the process, results and significance of his study, "The Economic Impact of Middlebury College of The Economies of Middlebury Town and Addison County". The investigation, which drew its data from Middlebury College, a survey of its students and the State of Vermont, attempts to provide a thorough, though not exhaustive, analysis of the College's economic influence. The study states, "Middlebury College brings money into the local economy through student tuition payments, student spending at local businesses, spending by visitors to the campus, research and grant money and through a variety of other means."Secretary of the College and Professor of Political Science Eric Davis attended the press conference. He commented, "The study shows that Middlebury College is definitely the 'economic engine' for both the town of Middlebury and Addison County. Because the College has been relatively less affected by the current economic downturn than other sectors of the economy (manufacturing and technology), Addison County has weathered these economic storms with relatively less damage than other parts of Vermont, [such as] Chittenden County, where IBM has laid off 1,000 people. This is good for all those who live and work in Addison County, not just those affiliated with the College."The NEC study found that the College, in addition to employing 1,253 workers, due to a multiplier effect, creates 736 jobs in Addison County. The College is directly and indirectly responsible for roughly one out of every seven jobs, paying county residents $59.3 million in wages and benefits. Middlebury College, through economic activity generated at and by the College, also gives $10.3 million in taxes to the State of Vermont. Woolf noted that the College "raises everybody's income in the economy," estimating that the College's presence raised each salary in Addison County about 50 to 100 dollars.The NEC study reports, "The most important source of export earnings in the Town of Middlebury is Middlebury College. The College exports services and brings in revenues from a variety of sources, including tuition, endowment income and gifts to the College. All of these revenue sources are the same as export earnings from a manufacturing facility." The study also points to student spending in the town of Middlebury as a source of export earnings. According to a Dec. 2002 student survey, students spend $2.7 million per year in town, while their visitors spend $2 million on hotel rooms, in restaurants and on other purchases.This figure, however, is lower than the amount of student spending cited in the 1996 study. "The students at Middlebury are more thrifty," Woolf noted. "For whatever reason, they're not spending as much." Davis offered two possible explanations for this: one, "As the mix of stores in downtown Middlebury moves away from 'general merchants' and toward 'boutiques,' students find it harder to find basic items in downtown stores - an issue faced by town residents as well as by students." The other is that "students are making more purchases of clothing and other items from Web-based merchants."Woolf said that the College is "very similar to an automobile plant, but in this case, what is being sold is a service" - the service of education, which Woolf noted is valued highly in Addison County. Woolf touched on Act 60, pointing out that people involved in higher education generally want to spend more on education, and that the more money spent, the higher taxes will be.The study measures economic impacts on three levels: "The direct impact of the College itself on the local economy,the spending that occurs because of the presence of the College in the community, [and] the more indirect effects, which are generally known as multiplier effects." One example of a multiplier effect is that, when the College buys products from local businesses, "spending circulates in the economy and supports additional jobs and income in the community."Stearns next presented the views of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce regarding the study. She noted that in every community there is one business, an "enhancer," she said, which, if it were removed, would cause "a drastic change." Stearns pointed to Middlebury College as that business and said that Addison County's vibrant identity is greatly enhanced by the image of "the New England town with a college." Stearns said that the $55.1 million spent in Addison County was "an enormous amount of buying power that allows our businesses to thrive."Davis agreed that the College's presence in the community added something. "The cultural, athletic, library and other resources associated with the College make living in Addison County a desirable option for retired professionals." Davis did observe, however, that "much of the new home development associated with this market is taking place in Weybridge, Cornwall and New Haven, rather than in Middlebury. This is both because the tax rates in the outlying towns are somewhat lower than in Middlebury and because it is easier, and less expensive, to acquire buildable land in the outlying towns than in Middlebury."Woolf, in his analysis of the NEC study, conceded that the study did not take into account several elements, two of which were the facilities that the College provides and student work-study jobs. Perhaps the most significant aspect of town- college relations that the study did not consider is student volunteer involvement in the local community. McCardell noted that about 1,000 students are involved in some kind of volunteer service in the community, which is impossible to quantify.The study concludes, "The total impact of Middlebury College on the town and county economies is large and positive. The direct and indirect impacts of the College help to maintain the health, diversity and vitality of the Addison County and Middlebury Town economies and also provide a net fiscal benefit to the State of Vermont."
(04/09/03 12:00am)
Author: Zach Foster As we push further into a snow-covered spring, the women's lacrosse team continues to melt competition while extending its blistering winning streak. In two games that promised to test the back-to-back national champions, the Panthers asserted their dominance with remarkable efficiency and relentless pressure. The two most recent thumpings included Union, and league nemesis Amherst, ranked just behind Middlebury heading into this past weekend's contest. Ultimately, the battles resulted in two convincing Panther victories by a combined score of 35-10 and a continuation of the team's nationally-regarded unbeaten streak, which now stands at 41 games.In the first contest, Middlebury arrived at Union, only to find a snow-covered turf field, which threatened to downplay Panther supremacy. But the conditions could not slow the swarming Panther attack, which tallied a goal within the first 15 seconds of the game. The first half proved to be interesting, as Union kept the score close, tying it at 3-3. From this point early in the first half the Middlebury defense tightened the clamps on the Union attack, asserting the efficiency of its zone and allowing only two more goals the entire game. To break the deadlock, Ali Perencevich '06 scored at 19:01 to spur a relentless 7-1 Panther run to close out the first half. Going into the locker room, Middlebury had a sizable 10-4 lead, but was still hungry for more.The second half was similar to the first, as the Panthers scored at will, and pressured attempts to infiltrate their defensive zone. While Union's Julia Davis scored the half's first goal to cut the lead to five, the goal proved to be the Dutchwomen's last. Leading the offensive charge for Middlebury was Meg Bonney '03, who netted six goals as well as assisting on another. Kate Simpson '03 continued her impressive play by showcasing a balanced effort of individual play-making and unselfishness. Simpson had a hat trick, but more notably, added to her team-leading assist total of 17 by dishing out four helpers in the win. Nuala O'Donohoe '04 contributed with three goals, while Char Glessner '03.5 added to her team-leading goal total of 22 by netting two. Said Middlebury Head Coach Missy Foote, "Our team did a great job with ball control in such precarious conditions and we were able to set the tone early which was very important."The second game featured a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) clash between the top-ranked Panthers, and the second-ranked Amherst Lord Jeffs. Playing at home in front of a crowd of over 250, Middlebury was once again able to strike early with a goal from Hanley only 13 seconds in. The early tally began a convincing first half for the Panthers, who never led by less than three and entered the locker room with a 7-3 advantage. The second half proved to follow a similar story line, as the Panthers notched four goals early to pull away with an 11-3 margin. Leading the offensive charge was Hanley, who displayed incredible precision and finesse in her passes once again, finding player after player for six assists. The most impressive effort came from goalie Sarah Grenert '04, who had five interceptions in the win, as well as saving an impressive 60 percent of the shots fired at her. Said Foote, "Her presence on the field brings our team to the next level." Offensively, Glessner and Simpson combined for 12 points in the victory, each recording a hat trick and finding numerous teammates for goals. The team's 16 goals came from an impressive eight different players including three from Perencevich, two each from Bonney and O'Donohoe, and one apiece from Hanley, Schuyler Winstead '06 and Elizabeth Renehan '06. "The Amherst game was a true testament to teamwork," said Foote. If the second-ranked Lord Jeffs are not able to offer the Middlebury women any significant scare, who will? As the top-ranked squad enters the heart of its NESCAC schedule, it is difficult to argue against another convincing path to the National championships. But with three straight games coming up against Tufts, Bowdoin and Vermont, the team will have to keep their focus, while dealing with adverse travel circumstances.
(03/19/03 12:00am)
Author: Kate Nerenberg The Middlebury women's lacrosse team won its 36th straight game on Saturday, defeating New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) foe Colby, 17-7. The team began its run at a third straight NCAA Championship crown with a strong first half that proved why the team was ranked number one nationally in preseason polls. The Panthers did not waste any time getting the ball up the field, as they netted two goals in the first four minutes. Unstoppable, the team rode the momentum of Char Glessner's '04.5 three goals in the next 12 minutes, tallying seven total in that time span. Kate Simpson '03 registered two of her three goals during this run.Before the end of the half, the White Mules managed to squeak by the young Middlebury defense just twice, but they were still facing a 10-goal deficit by halftime, down 12-2.The Panthers started the second half much the way they started the first, firing away right from the start. Quickly, they built the lead to 14-2, with contributions from Meg Bonney '03 and Nuala O'Donahue '04. By the midway point of the second half, Colby had once again notched two goals to cut the lead to 14-4. Their efforts, however, were not nearly strong enough to stave off the superior Panthers. Before time expired, Middlebury found the net three more times, extending its lead to 17-5. Colby made one last push and scored another couple of goals to end the game at 17-7. Goalkeeper Sarah Grenert '04 made 13 saves on the afternoon. While the win is both a positive sign and an extension of the team's remarkable winning streak, players must be careful of not getting ahead of themselves. Said Kathryn Perine '03, "I think it's impossible to ignore the prospect of going to the national championship, but in reality we know that we have a lot of work to do before we can think more seriously about that."The Panthers' next NESCAC opponents will come in the form of the Connecticut College Camels, the team's first road game this season on March 22. The following day, Middlebury will travel to Wesleyan for another NESCAC test before taking off to Florida where it will face Eastern Connecticut State in the midst of training. Although the Panthers try not to look too far ahead, a game with NESCAC and national rival Amherst is looming in the distance. Luckily, the Panthers will have a home-field advantage when they face the Lord Jeffs on April 5. For now, however, the team is going to focus on keeping their winning streak alive day by day.
(03/12/03 12:00am)
Author: Andreas Apostolatos After a 5-3 victory over Hamilton in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament semifinals on Saturday, the Middlebury men's hockey team managed a second-place finish in the tournament after a 4-2 loss to Trinity the following day. Despite being the NESCAC runner up, Middlebury was selected to the NCAA Division III bracket and will host Elmira on March 15 at 7 p.m. for a quarterfinal game."The [NESCAC] final versus Trinity was a challenging game," commented Panther interim Head Coach Neil Sinclair. "Trinity has an excellent team with very good speed, and they played very well in finals. We are looking forward to another week of practice and the NCAA tournament."Against Hamilton, Middlebury struck first with an unassisted Kevin Cooper '04 goal just 1:14 into the first period. After that, both teams were scoreless until the second period when Captain Rob Chisholm '03 and Assistant Captain Adam Foote '04 each scored during power plays. Hamilton made a valiant effort to comeback with three goals in the final period, the first of which came five minutes in. However, Chisholm and Cooper each notched their second goals of the contest in the period to thwart Hamilton's hopes.The following day things were different, as Middlebury seemed to be caught off guard by the same Trinity team that it had managed to outplay on Feb. 14. Despite doubling the Bantams' total shots on goal by 34-17, the Panthers were the team that pulled goalie Yen-I Chen '06 in the late stages of the third period and scrambled for last-minute goals.Trinity managed to notch a point on the scoreboard first on a goal with 13:44 remaining in the first period. The Panther deficit was stretched to 2-0 on a power play goal with 7:56 to play in the second period. Cooper then managed a power play goal of his own 2:42 later, putting Middlebury on the scoreboard. Just when it might have seemed that the Panthers were on the rise, the Bantams scored to extend Trinity's lead to 3-1 only 43 ticks after Cooper's goal.In the final 20 minutes of the game both teams were unable to find the mark until Middlebury pulled Chen with time running out. Instead of helping to erase the two-goal hole, the Panthers' empty net helped Trinity gain a 4-1 advantage on a goal with 3:23 left in the contest. Middlebury defensemen Patrick Nugent '05 did manage a goal during a late power play with 1:35 to play, but hopes for a comeback stopped there.The loss to Trinity snapped Middlebury's 20-game undefeated streak, and was the first loss the Panthers have been dealt since Dec. 7. Middlebury's preeminent standing among NCAA Division III teams gives the Panthers a safety cushion, and a second chance."We're very excited to have a second chance after not coming out on top in the NESCAC final," commented Chisholm. "I think we've learned our lesson and will be ready to go on Saturday night. As a team we're just looking forward to coming together and having fun while we play our best hockey yet this year."Middlebury can forget its NESCAC championship demons by capitalizing on their selection to the NCAA tournament.
(03/05/03 12:00am)
Author: Andreas Apostolatos After finishing the regular season with an 18-game undefeated streak, the Middlebury men's hockey team started off the post-season on an equally dominant note with a 7-1 rout of eighth-seeded Tufts in the opening round of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament on Saturday. In the semifinal round scheduled for Sat., March 8, the number one seeded Panthers will face Hamilton, who managed a 6-3 upset of fourth-seeded Bowdoin. "We were happy with how we played in the first two periods on Saturday but were disappointed we didn't finish the game on a high note," said Team Captain Rob Chisholm '03. "It was good for us to put a few pucks in the net and get feeling good about where we are but I'm sure everyone on the team is aware that the teams we will face from now on will prove a greater challenge for us than Tufts."Middlebury started strong and never let up in its quarterfinal bout with last-place Tufts. The Panthers scored six goals before the Jumbos managed to notch a point on the scoreboard. First-year forward Tim Schneider scored a hat trick and had an assist, while Kevin Cooper '04 added two goals and two assists of his own. Schneider and Cooper lead Middlebury with a remarkable 35 points a piece through the regular season and first round of the NESCAC tournament.The Panthers struck first on Schneider's goal with 13:28 remaining in the first period. Cooper then added his first goal of the contest during a power play with 48 seconds to play in the period.In the second, Middlebury turned it up a notch, while Tufts simply seemed to give up. A testimony to the Panthers' all-out dominance of Tufts was their ability to hold the Jumbos to a total of 14 shots on goal for the entire game. Middlebury, by contrast, put Tufts goaltenders Ben Crapser and Matt Ninneman fast at work with 45 shots on target. Middlebury's scoring arsenal in the second period consisted of four goals, which, needless to say, gave the 2,032 fans in Kenyon Arena reason to stay on their feet.Sophomore defenseman Brian Phinney commenced the stretch with a goal just 32 seconds into the period. Cooper then notched his second goal four minutes later during another Tufts power play. Assistant Captain Adam Foote '04 then gathered two consecutive assists as he found Schneider for his second goal at the 9:47 mark and Chisholm with 7:52 remaining in the second period. Tufts faced a 6-0 deficit going into the final 20 minutes.In the game's final period the Jumbos did manage to escape a blowout with a goal by Adam Delaney-Winn with 15:26 to play. The Panthers pushed their lead back up to six when Schneider scored his third and final goal of the contest with 8:21 left. Panther fans left the game with their fill of goals and another date at Kenyon Arena this weekend.Middlebury will face Hamilton this Saturday in its semifinal match scheduled for 1:00 p.m. In the other semifinal at 4:00 p.m. Trinity meets Colby in what should be a highly contested bid for the finals. Second-seeded Trinity needed overtime to oust Williams by 3-2 in its quarterfinal, while Colby had no problems in an 11-0 destruction of Amherst. Middlebury won its only regular season game against Hamilton on Feb. 7 by a score of 7-4. The Panthers also triumphed against Colby (5-1) and Trinity (4-2) in the regular season. The NESCAC finals will be played on Sunday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m. at Kenyon Arena."I think on Saturday we saw what things we are doing well at this point and also some things we need to work on," commented Chisholm. "We'll spend this week in practice trying to iron out some of the problems we saw on Saturday to get us ready for Hamilton. Hamilton played us very tough last time we played them. They are the most physical team in our league, and we'll have to be prepared for a battle this Saturday. I don't think any of us were happy with how we played at Hamilton this year and so we'll be looking to make up for that with this second opportunity to play them. I look forward to a really tough, exciting and close game against a good team on Saturday."
(02/19/03 12:00am)
Author: Andreas Apostolatos With another pair of wins during the weekend of Feb. 14-16, the Middlebury men's hockey team clinched the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) regular season title for the fourth straight year. Once again, the Panthers will enjoy home ice throughout the NESCAC playoffs scheduled for the last two weekends of February.On Feb. 14, the Panthers defeated second-ranked Trinity. The 4-2 victory all but solidified the regular season title for Middlebury, as only NESCAC cellar-dweller Wesleyan remained on the schedule of league opponents. The Panthers cruised past Wesleyan in a 5-0 shutout the following day to extend their undefeated streak to 16. Middlebury has not lost in 2003, their last defeat being on Dec. 7, 2002."I think we're all really happy right now that we are sitting on top of the NESCAC," said first-year starting goaltender Yen-I Chen. "We accomplished what we set out to do, but I don't think anyone on the team is satisfied with just first place during the regular season. We still have a lot of improvement to make if we want to make a run at the NESCAC and NCAA Division III tournaments."In the Trinity game, both teams were scoreless for the first period, displaying a defensive brand of hockey that has made them the top two teams in the NESCAC. In the second interval Trinity managed to strike first with an early goal with 17:16 remaining. Soon thereafter, Middlebury opened up a scoring tirade with four goals to close out the period. During the stretch, sophomore Brian Phinney notched two goals, including an important shorthanded goal that came with just one second to play in the period. Instead of going into the final period facing a two-goal deficit, Trinity now faced a 4-1 Middlebury lead. Trinity did manage a strong start to hopes of a comeback by scoring just 1:31 into the final interval, but Chen made sure to shut out the Bantams the rest of the way. Despite clinching the regular season NESCAC title, Middlebury is adamant about not letting up their guard. Beyond league rankings, Middlebury is currently ranked third overall in the NCAA Division III according to the latest United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) poll. While regular-season NESCAC play is done, the Panthers still have Norwich and St. Michael's left on the schedule. Norwich is the current second-place team on the USCHO poll, and has dealt Middlebury three of its five losses dating back to the 2001-2002 season. This season, the Panthers lost to Norwich in the first round of the Primelink Great Northern Shootout in a game in which they led by 4-3 with 13:56 left in the contest. The Feb. 21 showdown will be both a good test of Middlebury's resolve and growth, and an indication of how the Panthers measure up against another top team in the NCAA Division III. "The challenges only get tougher from here on out," commented Captain Rob Chisholm '03. "It is essential that we don't relax and feel satisfied with where we are. Friday night's game at Norwich is the first of many important games we'll be playing down the stretch. It ought to tell us something about where we are and where we need to go to be successful."
(02/19/03 12:00am)
Author: Edward Pickering An Addison County jury acquitted former Middlebury College student Chigozie Ogwuegbu '03 of a sexual assault charge brought against him by a female student who claimed he date-raped her on the night of Feb. 21, 2002. The trial, which concluded on Feb. 7, 2003, lasted three days.Initially charged with aggravated sexual assault, later amended to sexual assault, Ogwuegbu faced up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.Addison County State's Attorney John Quinn argued that the plaintiff had been drunk on the night of Feb. 21 and had not willingly had sex with the defendant. Ogwuegbu's attorney, Robert Keiner, argued that the plaintiff was sober and that the sex was consensual."I am just glad to get on with my life. Pretty much my whole year was on hold," said Ogwuegbu in an interview with The Middlebury Campus. He now resides in Washington, D.C., and works as a consultant in the communications industry. The plaintiff was "upset and extremely disappointed" by the court's decision, said Quinn in a phone conversation. "She was in tears." Quinn noted that the plaintiff, who declined comment for this article, no longer attends Middlebury College.Middlebury Police Officer Vegar Boe began investigating the case when he received an anonymous phone call March 13, 2002. The caller proved to be the plaintiff herself. According to Boe's affidavit, dated April 10, 2002, the plaintiff and Ogwuegbu met at a party on the night of Feb. 21. The plaintiff then invited Ogwuegbu to leave the party with her. Back at her dormitory, the two took a shower together and then returned to her room. The plaintiff and Ogwuegbu differ on what happened next. The plaintiff claimed, in court documents, that she was drunk and was forced to have sex against her will. In the same court documents a friend of Ogwuegbu's stated that Ogwuegbu told him, "[the plaintiff] was not uneasy at any point that night about anything going on."In court documents the plaintiff did acknowledge "that she had an interest in [Ogwuegbu] for some time." She "thought he was really nice and wanted to date him."Attorney Quinn stated, "She was romantically interested in the guy so I can't see why she would make [the charges] up."Following her encounter with Ogwuegbu, the plaintiff designed a poster that was displayed across campus. According to court documents, the plaintiff showed the poster to a friend and said, "I have to do something, and I have to show him that I am not just going to go away. I have to think about him everyday, and I want to put these up so he has to think about me."Ogwuegbu observed that when the posters first appeared he was ignorant of both their origin and relevance. "When the posters started going up I still didn't know what was going on.""I felt like I was the victim of a campaign led by [the plaintiff's roommate] and [the plaintiff] to bring womens' right issues to attention on campus," said Ogwuegbu, referring to the posters and his belief that the plaintiff's roommate influenced the plaintiff's decision to press charges.Robert Keiner echoed his client in a statement published last week in The Addison Independent article of last week. "There is no question in my mind here that the roommate both encouraged her to make the police report, and subsequently made the woman a poster-child for FAM's cause."Feminist Action Middlebury (FAM) co-president Joya Scott '03 denies that her organization sponsored last spring's poster campaign. "FAM has never been directly involved in [the court case]," she added. "The case was not public knowledge among FAM members. It was never discussed in meetings."The plaintiff's roommate refutes the imputation that she influenced her roommate's decision. "It was her decision and no one else's to report the incident to the police," she said "It is ridiculous to assert that I, as her friend, would have tried to convince her or urge her to go through with something so painful simply to further my political agenda on campus," said the plaintiff's roommate.When asked why the plaintiff waited nearly three weeks before notifying police of her encounter, her roommate responded, "It is not uncommon for women who have been raped to be in a state of shock and denial afterwards. This denial can go on for weeks, months or years.""Regret," Ogweugbu said, referring to the lapse of time, "does not lead to rape."Several people close to the plaintiff remarked that her behavior changed drastically after Feb. 21. "She was a happy go-lucky, personable girl before the encounter," said Quinn, "but afterwards cried a lot and acted reclusively, staying in her room."I argued that [the plaintiff] should be believed because of her emotional change after the incident. Her behavior was consistent with victims of sexual assault. I had a dean and good friend of hers testify on this point," he continued. Ogwuegbu said he regretted that this past year he had "to forfeit a lot of opportunities." He said he is relieved to be cleared of the charges brought against him.
(02/12/03 12:00am)
Author: Andreas Apostolatos While many Middlebury students enjoyed the weeklong February recess, the Middlebury men's hockey team was hard at work continuing its winning ways. The Panthers played three games during the week of Feb. 1-8 and triumphed over Babson and Hamilton and tied Amherst. The Panthers (16-3-1, 13-1-1 NESCAC) have now not lost a game since Dec. 7, and currently ride a 14-game undefeated streak. Most importantly, Middlebury's dominance has carried it into first place in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) standings. Trinity, which previously sat atop the league, did not have a successful time in Maine during the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 1, when they were beaten by both Bowdoin and Colby. Trinity's losses to the two NESCAC rivals allowed Middlebury to gain a first-place ranking with a 7-4 win against Hamilton on Feb. 7.Against Hamilton, the Panthers scored the first four goals of the game, which turned out to be quite a high-scoring affair. Middlebury was lead by Tim Graham '05, who scored a hat trick with one goal in the second period, and two in the third.The following day, the Panthers traveled to Amherst for their second straight game against a NESCAC opponent. Middlebury managed to break through first behind a power-play goal by Kevin Cooper '04 with 14:03 remaining in the first period. The game's second and final goal came in the second session, when Amherst tied the score during a power play of its own. While a 1-1 deadlock is certainly better than a loss, the Panthers could not help but be slightly dissatisfied with the result against the sixth-place team that they should have beaten. "We feel like we need to re-focus for the final regular season stretch run. We may have become a bit complacent in the last couple of weeks and that resulted in some uninspired play last weekend. It's a long season and it is difficult to keep your energy up for the entire run," commented team captain Rob Chisholm '03. "We remain confident that we can be in the thick of it come playoffs but realize that it is time for us to take that next step towards becoming a more explosive team. I wouldn't say that anyone is satisfied with the season. We have been happy with our play on occasions but we are never really satisfied. There is always the hunger for something bigger and better down the road."Currently, the positioning of teams in the upper echelon of the NESCAC is very tight. The top four teams -- Middlebury, Trinity, Colby and Bowdoin -- are separated by just five points. With two weeks left in the regular season, each team will play at least two more games against league opponents, which will be paramount in terms of the final league standings. Middlebury, which has 27 league points overall, will host second-place Trinity on Feb. 14. Should the Panthers manage to pull out a victory on Valentine's Day, they would only have league cellar-dweller Wesleyan left on their schedule of NESCAC opponents."This weekend will present a great opportunity for us to see where we are as a team," said Chisholm. "Playing us will bring out Trinity's best and we will enjoy the challenge because it will force us to get better as a team. This game may decide who wins the NESCAC regular season title and who is likely to host the NESCAC Championships."With two wins this weekend at Kenyon Arena, the NESCAC regular season title will be solidified.
(02/12/03 12:00am)
Author: Caroline Stauffer Over Winter Term, 13 students participated in a unique service-learning project in Romania. Biology 270, "Early Experience and Brain Development," was the result of a year of organizational work by Assistant Professor of Biology David Parfitt. According to Parfitt, who is a neuroscientist, the course was developed around laboratory research involving mice. Parfitt's lab received a large grant to study the effects of early experience on brain and behavioral development from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur and James McDonnell Foundation. The foundation is particularly interested in researching the effects of adverse experiences on brain development, and in exploring what can be done to combat those effects. Through the research foundation, Parfitt made a contact with a developmental psychology lab that was studying the effects of institutionalization on children. The lab, located in Bucharest, Romania, sought ways to reverse those effects through foster care. After receiving the grant and contacting the lab in Romania, Parfitt began to seriously ponder offering a Winter Term course. He traveled to Romania last summer to meet with the researchers in Bucharest, but thought logistical constraints would prevent him from sponsoring a course. While still in Romania, Parfitt came across a magazine article about an organization called Global Volunteers. This organization runs service projects at orphanages year-round, including the one in Tutova where Parfitt's class traveled last month. During his preliminary travels, Parfitt also worked in a hospital in the town of Tutova and ironed out details for the course with Global Volunteers. The course began with a week of background and orientation at Middlebury followed by two weeks of service in Romania and a final concluding week on campus. It was based on the scientific theory that the first two to three years of life are critical to the development of the brain and to human behavior. During the initial week, the class studied primary scientific literature on how the experiences of early life are incorporated into the structures of the developing brain. They also considered how brain development impacts behavior.Following the first week, the class traveled to Tutova, Romania. Tutova is located 20 minutes outside of the major city of Barlav, north of Bucharest. Parfitt believes that the class was a great success."My thought while the class was going on was that this is what I envisioned a J-term class to be," he said.The bulk of the classtime in Romania was spent at an orphanage that was an offshoot of the hospital Parfitt had worked at during the previous summer. The children range in age from infants to toddlers. Once the children near the age of three, they are either moved to a foster center or sent to a placement center. All of the children that the students worked with had serious developmental delays. The class dealt with a one-year-old child who could not even sit up alone. They also saw children who were almost three years old, but could neither speak nor eat solid food. Some of the children were so inhibited that they were terrified when taken outside the hospital.Other sights the class saw while in Romania relating to children included 200 abandoned children living in St. Catherine's, one of the oldest orphanages in Bucharest, the "failure to thrive ward" at Tutova Hospital and a modern placement center in Barlad that had just opened last year. The students' jobs were to nurture and take care of the children. Because they were so young, language was not generally a barrier to the project. According to Parfitt, the quality of the orphanages and the care the children received was hugely variable by locations. All participants kept a daily journal while in Romania. To continue their studies of the brain and early development, the class would meet and have discussions over lunch. They studied the issue of abandoned children from neuroscientific, psychological, economic, political and cultural angles. Students researched and helped the children from 7:30 a.m. until at least 8:00 p.m. every day."We went into issues and concepts that we simply would not have been exposed to if we had stayed at Middlebury," Parfitt said. "And seeing the problem up close really energized the students to try to do something to make a difference."The students also had a few opportunities to see the rest of Romania. A few students went with Parfitt to the University of Lasi to meet with some Romanian college students and their professor. Parfitt described Lasi as "a beautiful city with old European and Parisian style buildings and streets." While there, the students and Parfitt stayed in a hotel designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. The whole class took a weekend trip to Transylvania to see the medieval city of Brasov and the castles at Bran and Sinaia. Parfitt describes the Peles Castle of King Carol I as "one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen." The bulk of the trip, however, was spent at the orphanage and hospital, and Parfitt acknowledges that this experience was not representative of the country as a whole."It would be easy to come away thinking that Romania is a country totally made up of people that abandon their children and is defined by this problem," he said. "However, that would be narrow and limited. There are some beautiful parts of Romania."Parfitt also praises the Romanian people. "I was constantly taken aback by how welcoming everyone is, and how giving everyone is -- especially for people who (by our standards) have much less than we do," he said. "All of us experienced some measure of culture shock upon arriving and seeing one of the more negative aspects of Romanian society," Edith Honan '03 agreed. "After a couple of days with the children, however, the experience became more positive.""The uplifting side of things was that you could see the children improve over the short period that we were there," Parfitt said. He went on to describe the improvements of the young boy he worked with for the entire two weeks. In the beginning, the child would not eat any solid food. But on the last day of the trip, he took bites of banana."The uplifting side of things was tempered by the fact that we know that the children are going to regress until the next team of volunteers comes," Parfitt concluded.Upon returning to campus for the final week of Winter Term, each student had a final exam and final 10-page paper to complete. The papers were on different topics, such as nutrition or speech, but all addressed a problem or need of the hospital in Tutova. Honan's project was on peer interaction. She made recommendations to the hospital on how to facilitate play between children to make it a place more open to interaction. Parfitt is currently compiling the papers into a booklet to send to the hospital to improve the orphanage's work. So far it is 145 pages. "I believe the student's work and effort on these papers was at a much higher level because they wanted to help the hospital and the children they were working with," Parfitt said. "Again, I don't think the papers would have been as compelling if the students had stayed at Middlebury."
(01/25/03 12:00am)
Author: Kate Nerenberg With three New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) wins, the women's hockey team remained unbeaten in their last seven contests and improved to 11-1-1 on the season. After the successful week, the Panthers moved ahead of Bowdoin in the conference standings and now sit in the number one spot. On Jan. 17, the Panthers skated away from Colby easily, with a 9-1 win at home. The Panthers wasted no time in lighting up the scoreboard as Amber Neil '03 scored just 20 seconds into the game. The White Mules made a few adjustments but could only keep the Panthers quiet for another six minutes, when Kristin Reid '04 found the back of the net at the 6:13 mark. Jen Yerigan '06 added a third goal in the second period, but it was not until the third period that the Panthers really exploded. In the last 20 minutes of the game, Middlebury was unstoppable, scoring six goals. Once again, Neil scored at the 20-second mark, setting off a flurry of Panther goals. Just seven seconds later, Angela Kapus '03 notched the fifth Middlebury goal and Reid registered her second of the night only 40 seconds later. Colby could not hold off the Panthers as they scored just one minute later and twice more in the period. Netminder Kati Madouras ended the game with 10 saves. The nationally second-ranked Bowdoin Polar Bears traveled to fourth-ranked Middlebury the next day for a NESCAC showdown. At the time, the teams were tied for first place in the conference standings. The Polar Bears jumped to a 1-0 lead early, finding an opening at the 5:28 mark of the first period. The contest turned into a defensive test for Bowdoin, however, as Middlebury's offense was relentless. The Panthers outshot Bowdoin, 40-17. Finally, with 1:22 remaining in the second period, Hannah Delong '06 was able to take advantage of a power play with a pass from Emily Quizon '06, finding the back of the net and tying the score. Despite Middlebury's overpowering offense, it was never able to connect, even in the overtime period."It was really frustrating to have that big of a shot advantage and not win the game," commented Jackie Cohen '05. "We had the puck down at their end for a lot of the game. This game helped us gauge where we are as a team right now and what we have to do to improve."The Panthers used the lessons they learned in the Bowdoin game as they took on another pair of NESCAC foes the next weekend, starting with Amherst on Saturday. Although it took them awhile to warm up, once they got started, the Panthers completely dominated the game. Lorna Gifis '05 started Middlebury off with a goal at the 8:37 mark and Kapus did not even wait 30 seconds before putting the Panthers up 2-0. With two more goals in the first period and three goals in the second period, the Lord Jeffs never had a chance. Middlebury's defense worked hard, not allowing any shots on goal in the second period and only 10 for the whole game. The Panthers walked away with an 8-1 win. The Panthers ended their four-game NESCAC stretch against a feisty Hamilton squad the next day. The Continentals converted first, at 6:08 in the first period. Although Middlebury responded two minutes later, they were never able to gain momentum like in the Amherst game. Delong put the Panthers up 2-1 with five minutes remaining in the first period. Hamilton would not go away without a fight, however, scoring at the 18:10 mark to tie the score. Before the session was over, Erin Neil '03 put the Panthers on top for good off a Reid assist. The Panthers used the second period to build their lead, scoring three goals to Hamilton's one. Erin Neil sealed the 7-3 victory in the last session with a goal at the 7:33 mark. Madouras registered seven saves on the afternoon. The Panthers will look to improve even more on their record as they take on a slew of non-conference opponents this coming weekend. Middlebury will be wary of Manhattanville, who proved to be the Panthers' only regular-season loss last season, a 4-1 beating midway through the season. With a home-rink advantage, the Panthers will be loking to avenge this loss.
(01/15/03 12:00am)
Author: Kate Nerenberg After jumping out to a successful 4-0 start, the women's hockey team truly tested their abilities in a pair of games against teams ranked in the top 10. Middlebury, ranked fifth in the nation, defeated seventh-ranked Plattsburgh 5-1 in the first of these games before falling to top-ranked Elmira 4-2 the following day.Against Plattsburgh, Panther Emily Quizon '06 found the back of the net on the first shot of the game at the 14:23 mark of the first period. Fellow rookie Liz Yale-Loehr '06 assisted on the goal from the right wing. Despite a 7-2 shot advantage for Plattsburgh in the first period, Panther goaltender Kate Kogut '06 held strong between the pipes. Middlebury came out on fire in the second period, as forward Lorna Gifis '05 made it 2-0 at the 19-second mark, putting back a rebound. With just under three minutes remaining in the session, Amber Neil '03 capitalized on a power play and put her team up 3-0. Neil and Gifis each scored again in the third period to seal the win for the Panthers. Plattsburgh managed to get on the scoreboard with under five minutes remaining, taking advantage of a power play situation. Kogut ended the game with 23 saves while captain Angela Kapus '03 registered four assists. The next day, the Panthers once again faced an extremely tough opponent in top-ranked Elmira. Middlebury did not waste any time showing off its talented offense as Kristin Reid '04 put the Panthers on top at the 6:07 mark. The Plattsburgh offense was held scoreless until it tied the game at 11:19 and then took a 2-1 lead with only 33 seconds remaining in the first session. The Eagles were able to maintain their momentum going into the second period, scoring in the first four minutes as they started to move away from Middlebury. The Panthers would not go away and once again made it a one-goal game with a Neil goal at the 13:17 mark. However, they could not contain the Eagles, who went on to score one more goal in the third period. Goaltender Kati Madourous '04 made 20 saves and posted her first loss in three years. After traveling to Canada for three exhibition games of the Concordia Tournament, the Panthers snagged two New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) wins with back-to-back victories at Connecticut College. On Friday night, the Panthers used first-period goals from Kapus, Hannah DeLong '06 and Erin Neil '03 to propel them to a 5-1 victory. Gifis and Reid scored in the second and third periods, respectively. The Panthers out-shot the Camels 44-10 for the game. The next night, Neil took the game into her hands, scoring three straight goals to lead Middlebury to a 7-1 win. Again, the Panthers overwhelmed the Camels with a 51-13 shot advantage. The victories over Connecticut College provided a warm-up for NESCAC rival Williams. Last season, the Panthers were able to wipe the Ephs out in their first match-up, beating Williams 8-0 on the road. However, the Ephs came to Middlebury later in the season, ready to put up a fight, and nearly won, but once again the Panther squad came out on top, 3-2.The next time the Ephs traveled up to Middlebury, the outcome was not as sweet. Middlebury was hosting the NESCAC tournament and seeded first. However, despite a strong start for the Panthers, Williams managed to tie the game, sending it into overtime, where it eventually edged out the Panthers.They had this last game in the back of their minds this week as they picked up the intensity in practices and tried to play at game-pace. Using their sharpened skills and a defensive-minded approach, the Panthers took awhile to warm up before show-casing the depth of their team. After battling through two scoreless periods for both teams, Audrey Pellerin '04 finally found the back of the net with five and a half minutes remaining in the game. Williams dominated the early parts of the game, out-shooting the Panthers 5-3 in the first period and 7-5 in the second period. However, in the final session, the Eph defense could not handle the powerful Middlebury offense, who found nine openings and managed to connect on one."This game was huge for us. We wanted to beat [Williams] because they prevented us from getting to the NESCAC finals last year. But it is also a huge confidence booster and it gives the younger players some experience in close games," commented defensewoman Jackie Cohen '05.Currently, the Panthers sit on top of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) standings, tied with perennial powerhouse Bowdoin (8-0-1 overall, 6-0-0 NESCAC), a team they will take on this weekend, along with third-ranked Colby (6-3-1 overall, 4-1-1 NESCAC). "Those games are important because they will set the pace for the rest of the year," commented Cohen. Despite the NESCAC standings that are at stake, the Panthers would like to avenge a season-ending 2-1 overtime loss to Bowdoin in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year. This weekend's games will provide the Panthers with an opportunity to not only test their strength against top NESCAC teams, but also prepare for a string of non-conference nationally ranked teams that will be travelling to Middlebury at the end of January. The victory over Williams will act as a springboard from which the Panthers can now jump into the second half of their season.
(01/15/03 12:00am)
Author: Matt Ross Before winter break the Panthers went on a three game tear, winning their first league game by defeating Hamilton 90-88. Simon Behan '05 led the team in scoring, dropping 22 points, including going 12-13 from the line down the stretch to secure the win. Middlebury capitalized on this momentum by storming through the Norwich tournament, creaming St. Joseph's 102-61 in the semis, and rolling over Norwich 77-60. Adam Sinoway '05 led the team in the tournament with 32 points.The team returned to school admittedly flat. As Nate Anderson '04 commented, "It seemed like winter break knocked us out of sync." Last week, the Panthers went 1-2, losing games to Rensselaer and Colby-Sawyer. Middlebury came out hot in the Rensselaer game, shooting 47 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc in the first half, but the defense allowed Rensselaer to shoot 51 percent from the floor and 67 percent from three-point range, spotting them a one-point lead at the half. Middlebury hung with Rensselaer for the rest of the game, but the team's free throw shooting sealed their fate as they missed 12 of 18 attempts, leaving them 12-30 in the 84-81 loss. The team bounced back against Norwich, shooting 53 percent from the field and 71 percent from the line to put the Cadets away in an 85-74 victory. Unfortunately, the win was short-lived as the Panthers scored a season low 71 points in their ensuing loss to Colby-Sawyer -- a game the team hopes to be quick to forget. Captain Dave Coratti '04 said, "We like to think we have a short memory as a team. We don't like to linger in our wins and we sure don't like to wallow in our losses." Bouncing back may be harder than imagined as the team has lost three of four point guards. Fortunately Koby Altman '04 should be back on the team soon, and in the mean time, sure-handed John Verzosa '04 will handle the rock. With games today and Thursday, the team needs to regain its momentum before tipping-off against perennial rival Williams.Tip-off is at 4 p.m. in Pepin Gym this Saturday. Nate Anderson thinks the team is ready: "I'm confident that we'll find our rhythm before our league schedule starts."
(01/15/03 12:00am)
Author: Emily Berlanstein Over the past few weeks, the women's basketball team has been hard at work. While their results may not appear to compensate for the numerous games, grueling practices and an early return from the holiday break, Alexis Hollinger '05 commented, "Despite several losses, coach is really satisfied with the way we've been playing. We've come a long way since January 1st. We've been gaining momentum which we hope to carry throughout the remainder of our season." Before vacation, the Panthers found the perfect outlet for exam stress: the Castleton State Cougars. Behind 17 points from rookie Christina Marshall-Parr, Middlebury crushed Castleton 83-42. The win, which included an overwhelming 43-15 second half, was a team effort, as Alexis Batten '04, Kristin Hanley '03 and Elyse Carlson '05 rounded out the box score with 16, 10 and 10 points, respectively. Kate Shillo '04 dominated the boards with 10 rebounds. On Dec. 7, in what Williams' Coach Pat Manning describes as her team's "best defensive effort in two years," the Panthers fell to the Ephs, 63-40, in a non-league contest. Williams took the lead early and never allowed the Panthers to execute a comeback. The Ephs closed the first half with an 11-3 run, creating a 16-point spread at halftime. The Panthers made a valiant effort in the second half, closing the lead to 12 with 6:44 left. Unfortunately, the Ephs' lead was never relinquished, as they answered with a 13-2 run. Carlson led the Panthers with a double-double, recording 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Panthers seemed to have left their mistakes against Williams in 2002, as they rang in the New Year with a 70-48 win over Norwich. The well-rested Panthers came out on fire, cruising to an early 29-16 lead. In the second half, the lead continued to grow to as many as 29 points. Hanley finished the game with 24 points on nine of fourteen shooting, in addition to seven rebounds. Carlson was an offensive threat once again, with 14 points. Several days later, the Panthers traveled to Colby-Sawyer, where they suffered a heartbreaking 49-44 loss. The Chargers were hot from the start, claiming an early 10-2 lead. The Panthers answered with a 7-0 run, but Colby-Sawyer recharged for a 27-16 halftime lead. In the second half, the Panthers shot an unimpressive 24 percent from the field. With 2:34 left, they were able to close the lead to 2, but Colby-Sawyer hung on for the win. Middlebury was led by Hanley, with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Hollinger with nine points and 14 rebounds. The week ended with another close game against Springfield College, which resulted in a 58-49 loss. The Panthers made an impressive 12-2 run late in the first half, but could not fend off the aggressive Pride. Hanley contributed 16 points and Wesley Hyatt '03 added 12 points and 14 rebounds. According to team members, the losses do not reflect the squad's significant progress over the past few weeks. "We're finally developing into a unit," said Hollinger. "As we continue to play well together, we'll continue to take steps forward." Batten added, "We haven't let the losses get to us. Instead, we're using them to build to something greater as we head into league play." The Panthers will compete in their first league contest at Williams on Saturday. The Panthers will not return home until Jan. 24 when they play host to the always competetive Amherst College Lord Jeffs.
(12/04/02 12:00am)
Author: Andreas Apostolatos After cruising through its first two games of the season with an easy 4-3 win against Skidmore on Nov. 22 and a 8-0 rout of Massachusetts College the following day, the Middlebury men's hockey team was not as successful when it faced Norwich in the Primelink Great Northern Shootout on Nov. 29. A disheartening 5-4 defeat, in a game during which the Panthers led by 4-3 with 13:46 remaining, gave Middlebury its first loss of the season. The loss was especially painful since it was Norwich that ended the Panthers' season last year in the NCAA Division III semifinals.Middlebury struck first when forward Kevin Cooper '04 scored an unassisted goal with 18:02 remaining in the first period. After two Norwich goals later in the first, Middlebury evened the score with 15:39 left in the second period when first-year defender Ryan Cahill scored his first goal as a Panther. A third Norwich goal and a second goal by Cooper, who leads Middlebury with five goals on the season, put the score at 3-3 going into the final period.In the third period, Middlebury got a crucial goal from Assistant Captain Adam Foote '04, which put the Panthers ahead by 4-3 with 13:46 remaining in the game. Middlebury seemed in control of the victory until the final five minutes when they suffered two penalties, which gave Norwich a five on three power play. Norwich took full advantage of the undermanned Panther line and tied the score with 4:07 to play. With the remaining five on four, Norwich managed to score the game-winning goal with 2:05 left in the contest."The [Norwich] game epitomized the type of play that has made the Norwich-Middlebury rivalry what it is today," said Foote. "It was a fast-paced and physical game that could have ended with either team as the victor. Unfortunately, this particular contest was decided by our undisciplined play in regard to penalties, especially late in the game."In the third-place game the following day, the Panthers, perhaps still with minds fixed on their overwhelming loss to Norwich, fell 6-1 to Plattsburgh. The loss gave them a last-place finish in the tournament, and sent them home with two losses on the season, a total that was not reached during the entire 2001-2002 regular season."The Primelink Great Northern Shootout was a good learning experience for us," commented interim Head Coach Neil Sinclair, who is taking the place of Bill Beaney this year. "We played hard against Norwich and that's what is important."Despite losses in both of their tournament games and a modest .500 winning percentage, the Panthers still have the majority of the season to exhibit their ability to contend for the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and Division III titles. On Feb. 21, 2003, Middlebury will have another chance against Norwich, which has dealt the Panthers three of their four losses dating back to the start of the 2001-2002 season."We aren't focusing on long term goals like titles," said Sinclair. "We are more concerned with doing what we do well on the ice, and our short term goals of working hard, being respectful of each other and doing well in the classroom."Middlebury will host the USA under-18 team on Dec. 4, before traveling to Southern Maine on Dec. 6 and Salem State on Dec. 7. The Panthers will not play again until Jan. 4, 2003, when they host Hobart.
(12/04/02 12:00am)
Author: Holly Haertel The Middlebury women's squash team, now in its 27th season, is probably one of Vermont's best kept secrets, but not for long. The 2002-2003 women's squash season has not even begun and it is already turning out to be a great year. With the demolition of the Fletcher field house, and the installation of five new international squash courts, the women's team for the first time is able to practice and compete on regulation size courts.Prior to this year, the team practiced on old US-style courts, which were narrower with different wall boundaries, and then traveled each weekend to compete on the wider, international courts. The welcomed addition of these new courts will only help to strengthen the growing squash program.The 2002-2003 season begins on December 6-7, when Middlebury travels to Wesleyan to compete in a round robin tournament against Wesleyan, Hamilton, Colby, and St. Lawrence. Last year, the women's squash team finished 14th at the Howe Cup, the national championship of intercollegiate squash, and had an overall record of 13-8. Coach Dave Saward enters his 18th season as head coach with a record of 155 wins and 122 loses. Even more impressive is his record of four consecutive winning seasons (48-20) with no home courts and no home matches. Hopefully, the 2002-2003 season will witness the return of home matches to Middlebury's campus.With the graduation of last year's captains Sarah Herrup and Ellie Toan, the team looks forward to the return of senior co-captains Eliza Funston and Lisa Pilkington, as well as veteran player Chrissie Fuld, who all return from semesters abroad. The team is also pleased to have juniors Britt Cosgrove, Liza Franyo, Amanda Knappman, and Kea Anstey for the early part of the season before they depart for their overseas adventures. Sophomores Lauren Smith, Beth Seeley and Holly Haertel, who each competed in all of last year's matches and tournaments, return this year and should provide important depth to the team. The team also welcomes first-year and senior newcomers, Caitlin Flint '06, Alexandra Polemis '06, Liv Wilson '03, and Gigi Gatewood '03, who will all be welcome additions to the women's squash roster and should only strengthen the team over the coming season. With this extraordinary lineup and the addition of the new courts, the Middlebury women's squash team hopes to have a very successful season.
(12/04/02 12:00am)
Author: David Freedman Coming into the last two events against Springfield College on Saturday, Nov. 23, Middlebury's men's and women's swimming and diving teams were on the brink of a season-opening loss. The team came through, however, with outstanding individual efforts in the 400-yard individual medley and gutsy performances in the 200-yard freestyle relay to edge out the competition. The men won by a score of 147-141, while the women turned in a victory of a 154-146.Both teams were trailing until the 400 individual medly (IM), in which Kate Miller '05, Kellianne Egan '04 and Emily Egan '06 finished first, second and third respectively, and Alex Demas '06, Jamie Lamere '06 and Craig Ross '06 finished second, third and fourth. This events' results pulled both teams close enough to Springfield to have the meets decided by the last relay.Alyson Lipsky '03, Jen Watters '03, Teague Douglas '06 and DeWitt finished nearly two seconds ahead of Springfield to secure the women's first meet this season. On the men's side, David Hawkins '05, Scott Atkinson '06, Jason Korsmeyer '05 and Matt Clark '04 swam well enough to put the meet away with a two-tenths of a second victory. Coach Peter Solomon said that the teams' "never-give-up attitudes made all the difference in winning this meet." Hawkins, Atkinson and Korsmeyer, along with Demas also started the Panthers off on the right note by winning the 200-yard medley relay, as well as contributing to the deciding event on the day. Throughout the afternoon, the Panthers' victories were also full of individual comebacks. First years Electra Smith '06 and Demas came from behind in the 100- and 200-yard breast stroke to take first place in both events. Egan dropped 13 seconds on her 1000-yard freestyle from the previous week to land a come-from-behind victory. Leigh Bayer '05 contributed to the comeback spirit with a huge effort in the 200-yard butterfly for an individual win. The men's and women's diving teams also got a taste of what Solomon describes as some of the "best Division III divers in the country," and came away with strong results. In their first real outings on the year, the women finished second and fourth in the one-meter with Courtney Campbell '04 and Laura Shaw '05; Shaw also finished third in the three-meter.All in all both teams finished with a bang to fend off a fast Springfield team. Hopefully this victory will give the teams enough momentum to train through the Thanksgiving break, and gear up for Middlebury's Dec. 7 match-up with Amherst College. This meet will mark the first New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) challenge for the Panthers and it should give them a glimpse of what the rest of the season has in store for them.
(11/13/02 12:00am)
Author: Neil Onsdorff Think Head Coach Bob Ritter was happy with the way his team finished the season? "We were clearly the more focused, motivated and determined team as we played our best football game of the season this afternoon,"answered a modest Ritter after the game. The Middlebury Panthers capped their season with a crushing defeat of the Tufts Jumbos, 31-6 in front of a packed house at Alumni Stadium. The game resulted in the end of the football careers of 14 seniors who, for the past four years, have left their mark on Middlebury football. No person has left more of a mark than Denver Smith '03, however. On the first play from scrimmage Smith hauled in a 10-yard pass reception from quarterback Michael Keenan '05 to set the school's all-time receiving yards record. In this win alone, Smith had 10 catches for 143 yards, amassing an astonishing total of 1,760 yards in his career — the most in the program's 109-year history. "It was great to get the record out of the way early, but really I was more concerned with leaving the field a winner," said Smith. "We as a team fired on all cylinders and played a fantastic game. It just goes to show that we had the potential and the talent to play great all season. I am glad that we were able to showcase it during the seniors' and our team's last game." Not satisfied by just having the record, Smith opened the scoring in the game. On a fourth-and-nine punting situation from Middlebury's own 33-yard line, Smith carried out a gutsy fake punt to perfection and maneuvered 60 yards, using great moves to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead. Tufts, merely looking not to be embarrassed by a shutout, struck back on its next drive, using a 51-yard pass to bring the team within scoring position. However, a huge pass deflection on three and goal from the two-yard line by linebacker Rich Decembrele '05 ended the touchdown threat. Tufts had to settle for a field goal, leaving the score at 7-3 in Middlebury's favor. On Tufts' next drive, its offense yielded the first of its four turnovers on the day when dime back Ernie Miller '03 made a great sideline catch and a big Middlebury interception. Middlebury responded by going on an 11-play, 77-yard offensive clinic, which culminated with a Middlebury score on a two-yard option play in which Keenan dove in between two Tufts defenders for the score. Miller came up big again on the next Tufts drive as he intercepted his second pass of the day and ripped any confidence out of the Tufts sideline. Evidence of this could be seen on the Jumbos next drive, as they coughed up the ball for a third time in the half when safety Craig Schuette '03 laid a huge hit on an unsuspecting running back. His partner in crime, defensive back Pat Allen '03, easily recovered the loose ball. Two plays and nine seconds later, the Panthers scored again as running back William Lazzaro '03 ran 13 yards and back-up running back Matt Wolf '04 completed the drive with a two-yard score, giving the Panthers a commanding 21-3 lead. As the second half opened, Tufts, which was looking to add to a late first half field goal, essentially ended the game when their quarterback threw up an errant pass as he was being dragged to the ground. The pass went right to Middlebury defensive back Craig Pitman '04 for an interception and the Panthers' fourth defensive recovery of the day. Middlebury, going for the throat, marched 56-yards, 53 of which came by way of the legs of running back Lazzaro. He finished the drive with a one-yard run and the Panthers added to their total, leaving the score at 28-6. Middlebury finished the scoring when place kicker Mike Frissora '03 hit a 35-yard field goal giving the Panthers 31 points for the day. After the game Coach Ritter said, "It was a great feeling to watch the seniors walk off the field smiling on Saturday, in a season that has been marked by both great victories and painful defeats." Perhaps more than any other aspect of this weeken's performance, Ritter was especially proud of the effort made by the senior class that has been the cornerstone to this season's sucesses. "Saturday's victory was a testament to both the resolve of the entire program as well as the outstanding leadership we have received from our seniors and captains all season," said Ritter.On his reflections for next season Coach Ritter said, "While we will surely miss our seniors, we are all looking forward to building on our success in the off-season and preparing for the 2003 campaign."Like most of this year's fall sports teams, football is blessed with a talented and determined young crop of players. Though the team will lose key assetts in their four captains and unusually strong senior class, it is confident that the underclassmen will step-up to next season's challenge.
(11/06/02 12:00am)
Author: Neil Onsdorff Last weekend the Middlebury College Panthers made the trek to face off against Hamilton College in what has been called the "Rocking Chair Classic." Still feeling the pain of last week's demoralizing loss, the Panthers came out strong and absolutely punished the Continentals 41-21 for their seventh straight victory in this rivalry. This was Middlebury's best game from an offensive standpoint all season, as itsbig-time weapons put up some huge numbers to ensure an easy Panther victory.As opposed to other contests this year, the start of this game was highlighted by some huge defensive rather than offensive plays. On Hamilton's first play from scrimmage, Middlebury defender Pat Allen '03 was able to intercept a ball as if it were intended for him. On the Panthers resulting drive, they were unable to cover any ground, but were not kept out of the endzone for long. Defensive back Ernie Miller's '03 fumble recovery, which marked Hamilton's second turnover in as many plays, led to a one-play drive in which quarterback Michael Keenan '05 hit wide-out Denver Smith '03 in the end zone for a Panther 7-0 lead. The remainder of the half saw little action, as both coaches played the field position card during a wet and intermittently snowy afternoon. But, with 1:35 left in the second quarter, the Middlebury offensive two-minute drill looked to break a 7-7 tie. The Panthers executed this to perfection as running back William Lazzaro '03 and wide-out Tom Cleaver '04 brought the offense close enough for Keenan to knife a pass to double-covered Smith, who leapt into the air for a fantastic touchdown and a seven-point Middlebury cushion going into halftime. Playing with confidence and a sense of pure adrenaline on every play, the Panthers exploded in a fire of offensive fury in the second half and scored three touchdowns in four minutes. Running-back Lazzaro took the ball 64-yards in two plays, for the first of the offensive onslaught. After another Middlebury-forced turnover, Keenan lofted a perfect 25-yard pass to an outstretched wide-out Cleaver for another easy score. Like a broken record, the Panthers once again forced a defensive turnover, one of seven on the afternoon. Free safety Craig Schuette '03 got involved in the action by picking off a pass across the middle and then returned it deep inside Hamilton territory. One play later Lazzaro found himself in the end zone after an untouched 13-yard run."This is just a testament to how well our offense, and especially our offensive line, played during the game, in that we were able to recover from our slow start," said offensive lineman Ross Carbone '05. "And then we came out and capitalized on some great scoring opportunities." Middlebury finished its scoring bonanza for the day on a more conservative 80-yard drive. The drive was highlighted by fullback Christopher Davis's '03 pass reception in which he went "rumbling, stumbling, bumbling" down the field for 49 big yards, leaving helpless Hamilton defenders just ruined in his wake. The drive finished with Dom DiDomenico '06 hitting the end zone for the first time in his Middlebury career with a 13-yard run, giving the Panthers 41 points for the day, their biggest point output of the season. After the victory, Coach Bob Ritter, on his third win of the season said, "It was an exciting day for our squad, as every Panther player saw action on Saturday, many stepping on the field for the first time in their young careers. It was a great feeling to see the team play at such a high level and take a close game at halftime and turn it into a blowout by midway through the third quarter. Forcing seven turnovers and capitalizing on the opposition's mistakes proved to be the key to victory." This Saturday, the Panthers will play their final home game of the season against a solid Tufts University squad. For many seniors, it will be their last game. "We will have 15 seniors playing in their last football game of their careers on Saturday," said Ritter, "and it will surely be an emotionally- charged finale to the 2002 campaign." While in retrospect the 3-4 season may seem a dissapointment on paper, the seniors are well-aware that such a presumption would be inaccurate. To be sure they set straight any doubters, the squad will treat Saturday's game as if it were its first — full of promise and anticipation. And just like the first game, the seniors will lead the way.
(10/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Carrie Evans The women's field hockey team improved its record to 9-4 last week with wins at home over St. Michael's and Tufts. In defeating Tufts, Middlebury moved into a three way tie with Bowdoin and Williams for first place in the NESCAC with one game to play until the championship round begins.The Panthers beat St. Mike's, the 2001 Northeast-10 regular season co-champions, 7-2 last week. After losing to St. Mike's last year, the Middlebury team was ready to play aggressively against this strong Division II team. The game opened a minute into play with a goal from Char Glessner '03. St. Mike's returned with a goal three minutes later to tie the game, and then took a 2-1 lead soon after. Allison Smith '06 tied the game at 2-2, and a penalty stroke from Glessner put Middlebury in the lead for the rest of the game. To close the first half, Middlebury turned up the offense with another goal from Smith and increased the lead to 5-2 after a goal from senior Kate Perrine. Rookie Channing Weymouth '06 scored just 40 seconds into the second half, and Glessner scored her third to end the game at 7-2. Goalies Jo Opot '05 and Anna Spiegel '06 combined to save 13 for Middlebury.Saturday's 4-0 shutout against Tufts was an important victory for the Panthers in light of losses for both Williams and Bowdoin this weekend. Despite the cold and rainy weather, Middlebury dominated the game, coming out with a strong team offensive effort and taking advantage of spectacular goaltending by Opot. Weymouth scored the first goal of the game midway into the first half, and Smith's goal with eight minutes left gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead at the break. Sophomore Ashley Pullen scored twelve minutes into the second half and Sydney Atkins '05 sealed the victory with the final goal. Opot finished with eight saves.Middlebury's game at Connecticut College this weekend will be its last before NESCAC championship play begins on Sunday with a game at home. The team will work hard this week, focusing on upcoming NESCAC play, and feels confident about its prospects. Putting things into perspective, Pullen concluded "it's definitely a league where anything can happen."
(10/30/02 12:00am)
Author: Kate Nerenberg With one game remaining in regular season play, the women's soccer team is undefeated in its last five contests and looking to make some noise in the upcoming New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament. Two weeks ago, the Panthers took their game to New York to battle an experienced and talented Hamilton team. Britt Kittelsen '03 managed to bottle up some of that talent as she marked out Hamilton's leading scorer and top player. Avenging a 2-1 loss from last season, Middlebury helped goalkeeper Els Van Woert '05 register her first collegiate shutout with a 2-0 win.Coming off a sweet victory over Williams just days before, the Panthers did not waste any time at Hamilton. In the 23rd minute of the game Allison Bell '05 put her team on the scoreboard as a deflected shot found the back of the net. Hamilton stayed close through half time and the first part of the second session. However, the Panther offense was too strong and surged again with 20 minutes remaining. Senior Anna Gayman plowed past the goalkeeper with an assist from Mayo Fujii '05 to secure the win.Almost a full week of practice allowed the Panthers time to warm up for one of their homecoming game against Bates. Despite the cold weather, Meg Bonney '03 was on fire. She spurred her team into action, scoring the first two goals of the game. Fellow forward Leah Cumsky-Whitlock '03 scored the third goal of the half in the 31st minute. "Put together Meg, the former NESCAC Player of the Year, and Leah, the All-American, and fireworks happen. In our early going, their unstoppable, relentless and savvy attacking really carried us," Head Coach Diane Boettcher said of her two senior attackers. Although Bates scored right before the close of the first half, Bonney was ready to answer. Only 55 seconds into the second half, she scored her third of the afternoon. Just 15 minutes later, Bates again found the back of the net, but of course Bonney was there to respond with her fourth goal of the game. Gayman and Gillian Menza '05 each scored to secure the 7-2 Panther victory. Bonney's four goals on the afternoon brought her total season tally up to 16, breaking the single-season scoring record of 13 she shared with Cumsky-Whitlock. She also tied the single-game scoring record, which incidentally is shared with Cumsky-Whitlock as well."Meg Bonney has rewritten the record books here at Middlebury. She would be the first, however to deflect praise to her teammates, especially her striker buddy Cumsky-Whitlock. Meg personifies the understated excellence of our athletes here at Middlebury," commented Boettcher on her top scorer. In the last regular season home game, the Panthers took on a formidable Tufts team amid inhospitable weather conditions. Neither team could find the back of the net through 110 minutes of play as the game ended in a 0-0 tie. Defensively, the Panthers were extremely pleased with the shutout, after working on "no-shot defending" against one of the top NESCAC teams. Offensively, Middlebury was a little frustrated with the weather conditions and hitting the crossbar four times, including a shot by Fujii in the second overtime. The Jumbos went wide on a penalty kick, also in the second overtime, blowing their best opportunity to notch the deciding goal. The Panthers have a hefty task at hand as they travel to Connecticut College this weekend for their last regular-season game. The game is crucial for postseason play, especially the NESCAC tournament, which begins Sunday. There are four teams tied for first in the league, with Middlebury and Connecticut College tied for second. The top seven NESCAC teams get a crack at the coveted NESCAC crown, meaning an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Depending on the outcomes of other games, the Panthers could possibly host a NESCAC game on Sunday, or travel elsewhere. The team is again looking to shift its lineup after a stress fracture sidelined defensive anchor Erica Martling '03. However, the team has confidence in its younger players to step up to the challenge in the midst of a hotly-contested NESCAC race. Boettcher just wants her team to maintain its composure each day: "Our 'one game at a time' focus shifts to 'each win brings another game together' and we want to play as many games together as we can."
