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Women’s Basketball: Ballin’ with Zero Losses

The Panther women’s basketball team improved to a 6-0 record after beating the Sage Colleges on Thursday, Nov. 29 and Colby-Sawyer on Saturday, Dec. 1. Their winning streak is a testament to the squad’s versatility on both sides of the court.  The team is ranked sixth nationally for team defense, which, alongside offensive tenacity, is a dangerous combination — one that has led them to their 6-0 start.  “We’ve done a really good job at playing our game and staying consistent and composed. Our defense has also been extremely effective,” said junior forward Vanessa Young. “We’ve been holding teams to fewer points than they normally score.”  Against Sage, the Panthers pulled away 63-44, scoring 28 points off of turnovers and amassing an impressive field-goal percentage of 42.9. The third quarter characterized a 19-point scoring run, compared to the competition’s five points. The Panthers kept Sage at a 15-point deficit for the final quarter, securing their victory.  Middlebury’s defense proved its dominance on Saturday, Dec. 1 against Colby-Sawyer. Not only did the Panthers hold their competition’s field-goal percentage to 16.4 (9-55), but they also held out 56-31 for rebounds.  Junior Maya Davis had a notable presence in both games, combining for 26 points and 18 rebounds. Colleen Caveney ’19 dropped 19 points against Sage, while Catherine Harrison ’19 led the team with 17 points on Saturday versus Colby-Sawyer.  “We are really excited to have had such a strong start. We’re looking forward to finishing a strong preseason and getting into NESCAC play in January,” Young said.  Last year, in NESCAC standing Middlebury finished fourth, behind No. 1 Amherst, No. 2 Bowdoin and No. 3 Tufts. Amherst and Bowdoin met in the NCAA championship last year, while Tufts made it to the semifinals, where they lost to Bowdoin. Amherst, Bowdoin and Tufts will prove to be tough competition for the Panthers once again, as the NESCAC teams are successful at the national level.  The Panthers still have to face nonconference play before getting to the NESCAC stage. Looking forward, the team will hopefully go into January with experience that could help it against other NESCAC powerhouses. [gallery size="large" ids="42262,42263,42261"]

Buns, Hun! Dual Bakery and Italian Restaurant Now Open

[gallery ids="42216,42218"]As any Vermonter knows, a cornerstone of surviving the winter is good, honest carbs. Caroline and Matt Corrente, married co-owners of the newly-opened Haymaker Bun Co. and The Arcadian restaurant, know this well. The two businesses now co-inhabit the space at 7 Bakery Lane, formerly occupied by The Lobby. Entering in the morning, however, you’d never guess the dual purpose of the space. Greeted by a charming pastry counter stacked with Caroline’s fresh-baked buns, an espresso bar and lines of succulent-clad wooden tables, you’ll see crowds of early birds from Middlebury students parked on laptops to sticky-fingered toddlers digging into their breakfast.But between the hours of 11:30 a.m., when Haymaker Bun Co. closes for the day, and 4:30 p.m., when The Arcadian opens for the night, Caroline and Matt Corrente turn the place on its head. The barista behind the counter is replaced with a bartender, dough-kneading becomes pasta-pressing, and the fresh white walls once filled with natural light take on a glowing, cozy ambiance to become an elegant Italian restaurant.The businesses opened their doors earlier in November, and, as the Correntes told The Campus, it’s been going great. “We’ve had nothing but awesome support from people,” said Matt, to which Caroline added, “It’s a little nuts, but it’s been a great turnout from the community.”This all may seem like a lot to take on, but the Correntes are no strangers to the Vermont food scene. Matt is a Middlebury College alumnus of the Class of 2006.5, and Caroline graduated from the University of Vermont in 2012. Caroline formerly worked as a baker at Otter Creek Bakery, and Matt is the former head chef of Two Brothers Tavern and opening chef at Notte.Asked if these connections remain important to them, Matt immediately replied, “Absolutely.” At a time when many Middlebury businesses are struggling, Matt is glad to fill an unoccupied niche.“We saw that as an opportunity to provide the community with something that wasn’t currently here, rather than competing with somebody else,” he said.More than that, though, the Correntes are both seizing the opportunity to do what they love. “Cinnamon buns are my favorite pastry,” Caroline told The Campus. She previously attended Le Cordon Bleu pastry school in Paris, where she perfected the brioche dough she uses to make them. Matt, too, said of deciding on a pasta-based menu, “It was an easy decision. We said, ‘Let’s do what we love to do.’”[gallery ids="42222,42220,42225"]By now, both businesses have established their core menu items, having been thoroughly taste-tested by the third owner, their two-year-old son. For Haymaker Bun Co., it’s the “OG Bun,” a quick-selling classic that’s well-represented on the pastry counter. For The Arcadian, it’s the homemade pasta dishes complete with fresh seafood. But the couple is excited to keep developing their repertoires.Seasonal flavors are well-represented from morning to night on 7 Bakery Lane, beginning with Caroline’s specialty buns. She has already begun baking the “Gingerbun Man,” inspired by the classic holiday cookie. But, Caroline said, “Why stop there? Why not do all the flavors?” She plans to have eggnog- and mint-chocolate-flavored buns too, and is excited to be able to incorporate fresh local produce in the spring and summer.Matt shares a similar sentiment and added that he’s looking forward to adding seasonal specials to the Arcadian menu. He can’t wait for tomato season, though neither business imports much produce — because of their heartfelt connection to Vermont, the Correntes use locally-sourced ingredients as much as they can.That doesn’t mean The Arcadian’s winter menu isn’t colorful. One of Matt’s favorites is the Tricolore Salad, a Caesar-style salad that’s true to its name with red, white and green lettuces. Both the Correntes also gave their official seal of approval to the lamb neck, which Matt described as “the perfect food for a snowy November.” The two businesses are also planning to start collaborating on Sunday brunch beginning Dec. 9.Beyond just good food, though, the Correntes want to create a space that welcomes people from all corners of the community. They have already seen locals turning into regulars, and love the idea of the space, which seats 75-80 people, becoming a hangout spot. They also offer free WiFi. “It makes me really happy to see people hanging out and doing work,” Caroline said.The Arcadian will be hosting the graduation party for the Middlebury Feb class of 2018.5, and Matt, having graduated Middlebury as a Feb himself, can’t wait. The restaurant’s reservation list is also already filling up for spring graduation, but the Correntes have even more in store for Middlebury students.The Arcadian, usually serving traditional Italian food, will be hosting “Throwback Thursdays” during January, aligning with the college’s J-Term. Not much must have changed since Matt’s time as a Midd Kid, because looking back, Matt remembers the frenzy that chicken parmesan would incite at the dining halls. He plans to serve the dish on a menu of Italian-American comfort foods, recognizing the need for warm carbs and melted cheese during Vermont’s coldest month.Haymaker Bun Co. and The Arcadian have both started off strong in the town’s somewhat precarious food scene, and Matt and Caroline are hoping to bring them nowhere but up.  Both businesses welcome Middlebury students with open arms and, as Matt reminded, “If you can make it to Twilight, you’re five minutes away.”

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Men’s Basketball is Dropping Bucket After Bucket

After an 83-37 victory in its home opener in Pepin Gymnasium, the Middlebury men’s basketball team propelled itself to five more wins, only suffering one recent loss this past Saturday. The Panthers remain 12th-ranked and continue with momentum, having yet to host or visit another NESCAC team.  Middlebury improved to 4-0 on the season with a 78-63 road win at Morrisville State on Tuesday night, Nov. 27. The Panthers came out fast with a 10-2 lead, with  seven points from Jack Farrell ’21. With that, Middlebury’s bench also outscored Morrisville State’s by an impressive margin of 43-8.  Hot shooting led the men’s basketball team past New England College, 4-1 in their schedule, shooting .556 from long-range distance to pull out a 97-68 victory on Thursday, Nov. 29. Matt Folger ’20 led Middlebury in points at NEC, recording a career high of 28. Max Bosco ’21 and Hilal Dahleh ’19 netted 14 points, while Eric McCord ’19 pulled down eight rebounds.      On Saturday, Dec. 1, Middlebury hosted Keene State for its third game in five days, falling to Keene 93-88. A setback in the sixth game of the season, the loss marks Middlebury’s only loss in the 2018-19 season. Farrell led the Panthers in points, with a career high of 30. McCord, co-captain with Dahleh, posted 10 boards for the game.  McCord commented on previous meetings with the Panthers’ opponent, Keene State, and the team’s mentality going into Saturday: “We want to be confident going into any game, but at the same time we know that Keene State is a great opponent who we have battled with every year, so we had a lot of respect for them. We know we had to come to play.” The team fought back hard in the second half, which McCord described as “showing fight and relentlessness.”  The Panthers (5-1) have a lot to be proud of, and will show up to play Plattsburgh State on Tuesday night, Dec. 4. Plattsburgh State is ranked 13th, one spot below Middlebury. “We’re definitely disappointed in the loss, but there are a lot of positives to take away [from the Keene State game]. Our team chemistry continues to improve, and we just keep getting better playing together,” McCord said. As the season continues, the Middlebury men’s basketball team is a force to be reckoned with. [gallery size="large" ids="42229,42228,42227,42226"]

Men’s Squash: Rookies Make Their Mark

The 20th-ranked men’s squash team came out with a bang for their first weekend of the season with a tightly contested 5-4 loss against 10th-ranked Navy. Compared to their 9-0 loss to Navy last winter, the squad appeared to show massive improvement. Some of their points came from a speedy three-game win from Thomas Wolpow ’20 at No. 8, and a thrilling five-game comeback from Wiatt Hinton ’21 at No. 6. Likewise, John Epley ’21 took a four-game victory at No. 7, and first-year Teddy Best scored his first collegiate win at No. 5.  Following Navy, the team returned to the courts on Saturday, Dec. 1 to take on 23rd-ranked Tufts. The Panthers eased past the Jumbos with an 8-1 victory. Wolpow claimed a three-game win at No. 7 to clinch the match for Midd. Three of the team’s points were won by first-years Justin Ghaeli, Teddy Best and Nate Moll. Coming into the match, captain Jacob Ellen ’20 said, “Our first-years are fitting into the team culture very well.” These first-years came out ready to play, scoring their first-ever personal and team collegiate wins.  Before heading off for their short winter break, the men will travel to Connecticut to face No. 31 Wesleyan on Saturday, Dec. 8 and 14th-ranked George Washington University on Sunday, Dec. 9. There, the team will have another chance to see where they stand against a top-15-ranked team.

Women's Soccer Falls to Williams in First National Championship Final

In a tense 1-1 game by the end of two overtime periods, the women's soccer team was defeated by the Williams Ephs 3-2 in penalty kicks in the NCAA Division III championship. This was the first championship appearance of the Panthers in program history. The previous day, on November 30, the Panthers defeated the WashU Bears 1-0 in a stunning upset to advance to the national championship. Led by NESCAC Coach of the Year Peter Kim, this was the team's second journey to the Final Four in program history, having previously competed in 2013. On the way to the championship match, the team secured wins against Maine-Farmington (4-1), Ithaca (0-0 with a win on penalty kicks), Swarthmore (2-0), Misericordia (1-0), and most recently WashU (1-0). Last year, Middlebury's 12-4-2 record brought them to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Williams' journey to the championship match was achieved after a 2-0 win against Christopher Newport in the semifinals and placing second in the NESCAC Championship. The Ephs traveled to Greensboro with a 17-1-4 record. This was the third time Middlebury competed against Williams this season, suffering a 0-1 loss at the end of the regular season on October 23 and winning the NESCAC Championship 1-0 in Williamstown on November 4. The first half included a goal by Williams' Aspen Pierson assisted by Ilana Albert and Georgia Lord, her fourth goal of the season. Olivia Miller '20 and Eliza Robinson '21 attempted shots on Williams goalie Olivia Barnhill. With 13 minutes remaining in the second half, the game became tied 1-1 by a Williams own goal. Clare Robinson '19 and Eliza Robinson '21 contributed to the Panthers' total of six shots during regulation play. With the score tied at the end of the second half, the game proceeded into overtime. In the first overtime period, a shot by Williams' Sarah Scire was saved by goalie Ursula Alwang '20. This was Alwang's 2nd save of the game and 67th of the season. Continuing through the rain, both teams went into a scoreless second overtime period and penalty kicks. Goalie Eva Shaw '19.5 was substituted for Alwang for the penalty kicks. Against Amherst, she made two saves at the NESCAC semifinals and three saves against Ithaca in the NCAA tournament. With shots made by Sara DiCenso '19 and Cate Shellenback '22 and missed by Magnolia Moskun '21.5, Riley Kinum '22 and Clare Robinson '19, the Ephs defeated the Panthers 3-2 in penalty kicks. This is the Ephs' third title in four years, making the team the fourth program in NCAA Division III history to win back-to-back championship titles. "It's always a hard-fought battle between these two teams. We know each other really well," head coach Peter Kim said in a press conference following the game. "We have a very special senior class…they have led by example and pulled the team along." "I think we really did a great job playing how we like to play — possessing the ball — and we knew when we had to play a little more direct. We were in it the whole time and I'm just really proud of that," commented senior captain Abby Blyler. The Panthers finished their season with a 19-1-4 record, 51 goals and an average of 19.3 shots per game. Clare Robinson '19 and Janie DeVito '19 were selected to the first all-NESCAC team, while Alwang, Amanda Dafonte '19 and Eliza Van Voorhis '21 earned spots on the second team. At the conclusion of the final match, Alwang, Rose Evans '22, Simone Ameer '21 and Claire Robinson '19 were named to the all-tournament team.

Women's Soccer Sails to National Championship

The third-ranked women's soccer team defeated top-ranked and undefeated Washington University-St. Louis (WashU) in a 1-0 win at the NCAA Division III semifinals in Greensboro, North Carolina. Advancing to the championship game Williams, this will be the first championship appearance in the program's history. The team's journey to the Final Four was the first since 2013 and second in program history. After winning the NESCAC Championship 1-0 against Williams, the team scored wins against Maine-Farmington (4-1), Ithaca (0-0 with a win on penalty kicks), Swarthmore (2-0) and Misericordia (1-0) and traveled to Greensboro with an 18-1-3 record. Last year, the team's 12-4-2 record brought them to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The first half was largely a battle at midfield, with Caitlin Magruder '20 sustaining an injury after a collision with WashU's Maggie Crist. Jinx Charman '20 was brought in as a substitute following Magruder's injury. With just over two minutes into the second half, Simone Ameer '21 brought the Panthers' lead to 1-0 with a goal assisted by Ellie Greenberg '20 and Gretchen McGrath '21. This was Ameer's fourth goal of the season. With eight minutes left in the second game, Alwang saved a header shot by the Bears' Maggie Crist. The Panthers' defense was led by Rose Evans '22, assisted by starters Amanda Dafonte' 19, Janie DeVito '19 and Isabelle Hartnett '21. "I think this was probably one of the hardest games of the season for us," captain Dafonte said in a press conference following the game. "It was one that we went into saying that we were going to work harder and we were going to go out with heart and leave it all out on the field." Fellow captain Abby Blyler '19 attributed the team's success to intense competition throughout the season. "In every game that we face, anyone could win on any given day. We have had competition throughout the entire season and I think that has prepared us a lot for this tournament," she said. Ameer, the game's only scorer, agreed with her teammates when she said that the team was able to hold together following Magruder's injury. "When we were able to just get in the game and settle down a bit we found our rhythm more and just felt more able to play like ourselves," she said. Urusula Alwang '20 spent all 90 minutes in goal with three saves. The WashU Bears finished their previously 21-0 undefeated season with a total of 62 goals and an average of 2.95 goals per game. Williams enters the championship game after a 2-0 win and will seek its second consecutive championship and third in four years. "There is an energy on this team that feels like a winning team and so I think to go all the way to the national championship is an awesome reward for that feeling we had at the beginning of the season," Dafonte commented. "It’s going to be a great game and we couldn’t be more excited." The championship game will be streamed on NCAA.com here, starting at 7 p.m on Saturday, December 1.

Five Debaters Headed to World’s Largest Tournament

Five students from the college will compete at the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) from Dec. 27 to Jan. 4 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The college’s debaters will be attending the largest college debate tournament in the world after many months of successes at debate tournaments around the globe. The Middleury Debate Society is run by President Amanda Werner ’21, Vice President Hadjara Gado ’21 and Captain Charlotte Massey ’19.  The team will send two teams and a judge to South Africa this winter for WUDC: Massey, Werner, Nathan Obbard ’21 and Quinn Boyle ’21 as debaters and Van Barth ’21 as a judge. “I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to represent Middlebury at Worlds this year, and I am excited to meet debaters from around the world who will challenge and broaden my current perspectives about different topics,” Werner said. The organization has had many successes since last spring, when Warner and Gado won the novice championships for the North American Women’s Championships and Massey made the Grand Finals, becoming eighth speaker overall. Massey and Ceryn Schoel ’19.5 made semifinals at America’s Cup, while Nathan Obbard ’21 and Van Barth ’21 made novice finals at the George Washington University Championships.  This fall, the Debate Society sent first years to compete at the McGill Central Novice Championships in Montreal, where they performed well overall and Massey was selected to judge.  “I’m proud of the new debaters who performed well at the McGill tournament in Montreal back in September,” Barth said. “They really took a leap of faith and competed at a tournament only three weeks after arriving on campus.” Two Middlebury teams came close to the quarterfinal rounds at the Hart House Inter-Varsity at the University of Toronto. And on Nov. 8 and 9, two teams competed at the Oxford IV, one of the most competitive and prestigious debate tournaments in the world, with both teams nearly making quarterfinals. Massey entered the Grand Finals at Oxford Women’s Championship, another challenging and prestigious tournament. 

In Annual ‘Sleep-Out,’ Locals Experience Frigid Reality of Homelessness

Winter is here. If anyone needs proof, at four in the morning last Thursday, it was three degrees Fahrenheit in Middlebury, which is now the town’s coldest recorded temperature for a Thanksgiving Day. For the hundreds of Addison County residents who make up the county’s homeless population, enduring these mornings and nights must be done without permanent housing. And with the deep dive into winter, conditions can become life-threatening. Last January, former Middlebury employee Suad Teocanin froze to death mere steps away from the shelter of the Charter House in town, where he had been living.   To raise awareness of the dangers of winter homelessness, The John Graham Shelter, based in Vergennes, will host their 5th annual “Vigil and Sleep-Out” this Saturday, Dec 1.  [pullquote speaker="CHRIS SCHEMBRY" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]It really just put a lot of things in perspective.[/pullquote] The idea is simple: pitch tents on the Marble Works Green, and for one night, anyone who wishes can sleep outside in bitter conditions to show solidarity for and support people experiencing homelessness. “The best way I can describe the Sleep-Out is it’s like Relay for Life, but instead of walking at night we’re sleeping outside,” said Chris Schembry, service coordinator at the John Graham Shelter.  Schembry emphasized that the night-long event coincides with heavy fundraising efforts by the Shelter, which will all directly benefit the homeless they support throughout the year. Donations from individuals and organizations now total over $43,000, leading into this weekend. The current fundraising goal is set at $45,000 and the Shelter is hoping to reach that number by Saturday. “This is the third year I am working with the shelter for the sleep out, and we typically raise somewhere between $40,000 and $45,000,” said Schembry. The event itself begins at 4 p.m., with a Candlelight Vigil on the Middlebury Town Green. The Sleep-Out begins later that evening. As an employee of the shelter, Schembry commented on the overnight from personal experience. “I didn’t sleep much,” said Schembry.“It really just put a lot of things in perspective.” For the homeless population, he said, “That’s their normal. That’s what they have to do every day. ” For more information on how to fundraise and participate in the “Sleep-Out”, visit www.johngrahamshelter.org.

Men’s Hockey: Living Up to the Legacy?

Last year, the Middlebury men’s hockey team seemed to stumble through their season, falling well short of a winning season with a 4-17-3 record. This year, however, it seems the Panthers are ready to retaliate and to come back proving they’re better than ever. The 2017-2018 season “was difficult for the team and coaching staff alike,” according to junior captain Owen Powers. “While we were able to make serious strides towards the end of the season we were ultimately a young team that struggled to finish games, to score goals and be the first team to score in games.”  It seems last season’s difficulties stemmed from a disconnect in the team dynamic. “I think we had some of the right pieces but the culture and work ethic within the team was not fully there,” said senior captain Kamil Tkazcuk. “We had really good players last year but we did not compete the right way.” Acknowledging these issues, the Panthers knew what to focus on in the offseason to prepare for the new year.  “We have really worked last spring and this fall to fix our team culture and work ethic both on and off the ice,” Tkazcuk said. “The biggest difference from this year’s squad and last year’s is that everyone is working together towards a similar goal. Last year we worked more individually, this year is all team-oriented, stemming from the change in team culture.” In addition to improving upon weaknesses, the team was sure to take advantage of and build upon existing strengths, such as team chemistry. Powers explained that “the team chemistry is great. The dynamic in the locker room has been excellent and everyone gets along very well.”  Tkazcuk agreed, calling this year’s team “one of the closest, if not the closest, teams I have ever been a part of.” Moreover, the young team which the Panthers struggled to work with last year in turn only serves as a positive this year. “I think some strengths from last year’s team is the core of the team. We lost some important seniors from last season but the core of the team remains intact,” Tkazcuk explained.  The Panthers already hold a 2-2 record this season, defeating Colby and Plattsburgh but falling to Bowdoin and Norwich, and seem hopeful for what the future holds.  “I think both games we won, we dominated. Both games that we lost, we beat ourselves with penalties and mental errors; the opposing teams did not beat us,” Tkazcuk said. With this, Middlebury confidently knows what to expect heading into their upcoming matchups.  The Panthers even have their sights set on the NESCAC tournament, in which they made their most recent appearance just three years ago during the 2015-2016 season -- the last after a spectacular 21-year run.  Though facing a few hurdles and feeling the heat of this impressive legacy, this year’s squad feels fired up and ready to go, rather than daunted. “We are finally in a position where we know we can beat anyone,” Powers said.

Men’s Squash Looks to Serve Wins This Season

Coming off of a successful 2017-18 season, the Middlebury men’s squash team is optimistic leading in to this 2018-19 season. At the end of the CSA Team Championships in February, the team clinched a 9-12 record and a top-20 national ranking. Dedicating countless hours to training this preseason and maintaining their 19th spot in national preseason rankings, the group is eager to get started. Although the squad has lost five important seniors, there is no doubt that the three first-years, Teddy Best, Justin Ghaeli and Nate Moll, will hold their own and make a mark.  This very young team consists of no seniors. Instead, they will be led by juniors Nick Bermingham, Jacob Ellen and Thomas Wolpow. Consistently playing in one of the top positions last year, Ellen is expected to be a strong leader on this team. With a respectable 10-10 record while primarily playing in the second spot last season, Ellen is a crucial asset to this team. William Cembalest is another junior star to watch. Consistently playing at the top position last winter, Cembalest earned his way to the College Squash Association Individual Championships in Washington, D.C. back in March. Junior Jack Kagan was another Panther invited to the Individual Championships where he finished his season. Kagan sat at #3 and had a strong 14-10 record.  Likewise, sophomores John Epley and Wiatt Hinton saw success in their first season as Panthers and are ones to watch out for as they look to repeat their strong records.  The Panthers will begin their season by hosting #16 Navy in the recently dedicated Bostwick Family Squash Center on Friday, Nov. 30. Falling 9-0 to Navy on the road last February, the Panthers are looking forward to seeing them at home. A consistently solid team, Navy is already 9-0 for the season with a 5-4 win over #13 University of Virginia.  After their face-off with Navy, Middlebury will host #27 Tufts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. Like Navy, Tufts has been able to get in a few matches before they face the Panthers. With a 2-0 record so far with wins over Colby and Wesleyan, Tufts cannot be underestimated. 

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Sunset at 4:02 p.m., from my walk home through Princes Street Gardens.

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Champions Again: Field Hockey Wins Fourth National Championship

The second-ranked Middlebury field hockey team swept fourth-ranked and NESCAC runner-up Tufts in a 2-0 win under the Spooky Nook Dome in Mannheim, Pennsylvania. This was the Panthers' fourth NCAA Division III championship win, having previously captured the title in 1998, 2015 and 2017. After defeating Rowan University 4-2 the previous day in the semifinal round, the team cruised to the fourth all-NESCAC final in Division III history, with Middlebury previously defeating Bowdoin 1-0 in 2015. Over 400 spectators filled the dome for the first indoor championship in Division III field hockey history, with the outdoor playing fields unplayable due to the recent snowstorm. This is the 8th appearance the Panthers have made in the national championship; the team has the fourth-highest winning percentage in tournament history. Last year, the Middlebury defeated top-ranked Messiah 4-0 at the championship round in Louisville, KY. With Messiah knocked out by Johns Hopkins 3-2 in the quarterfinals on November 11, the Panthers sailed past Keene State (8-0), TCNJ (5-1) and Rowan (4-2) leading up to the final game. This is the first back-to back championship victory for an individual team since Bowdoin's victories in 2007 and 2008. Over 12 minutes into the game, NESCAC Player of the Year Erin Nicholas '21 scored a goal off a blocked shot against Tufts goalie Andie Stallman. The play leading up to the goal was off a penalty corner by Isabel Chandler '21. Nicholas is the second player in NESCAC history to be named Rookie of the Year as a first-year and Player of the Year as a sophomore. “Every game feels like it can go either way," head coach Katharine DeLorenzo said to the press earlier in the weekend. “We showed last year against Messiah that it’s a huge benefit for them,” she said, striving for a high-pressure game. With 11 minutes remaining in the second half, Nicholas masterfully shot a reverse sweep shot to the right corner of the cage for her 17th goal of the season. With the Panthers up 2-0, the team maintained control towards the championship title. In a press conference following the game, DeLorenzo attributed the team's success to the team's talent and sharp focus. "We have a team of warriors who understand each phase of the game well enough to really apply themselves and when you put that heart and soul and that tactical understanding together, they stay the course in preparation and in the game," she said. Collins commented on how much the team has grown since preseason in August. "In August, we were 24 girls, some knew each other and some didn’t, and from then until now it’s just a different group honestly. It’s really even hard to compare," she said. Nicholas, the game's only scorer, maintained a calm and relaxed mindset while relying on her teammates. "I don’t come in thinking my goal is going to lead to a point. The goals were a team effort and I couldn’t have done it without everyone," she commented. Other members of the team with shots included Marissa Baker '20, Molly Freeman '19, Kelly Coyle '20, Grace Jennings '19, Danielle Brown '21, and Emma Johns '20. Goalie Meg Collins '18.5 finished the game with 5 saves against the Jumbos. Nicholas, Collins, Emma Johns and Baker were named to the All-Tournament team, while Jennings earned Most Outstanding Player honors. This was Jennings' third NCAA Division III championship during her four-year collegiate field hockey career. "One of the things I love about being a forward is that you need the entire team behind you in order to do your job. You can’t get the ball unless you have an amazing team behind you," she said. The Panthers finished their season with a 21-1 overall record and a total of 95 goals. [gallery size="large" ids="42092,42093,42094,42095,41910"]

Field Hockey Headed to National Championship

After a NESCAC championship victory on November 4 and a 14-hour bus ride to Manheim, Pennsylvania, the field hockey team secured a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship after a 4-2 victory against Rowan University. Grace Jennings '19 led the Panthers with goals at 7 and 27 minutes into the first half, while Danielle Brown '21 continued to carry the team with two goals in the second half. Marissa Baker '20 was also responsible for two assists and Jennings assisted Brown for Brown's 12th goal of the season. Goalie Meg Collins '19.5 achieved six saves during her time in goal. "I thought it was a terrific display of athleticism on both sides. Rowan was the most physical, the quickest, the most powerful opponent we have faced this year," head coach Katharine DeLorenzo said in a press conference following the game. The Panthers will now face NESCAC foe Tufts tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the NCAA Division III championship. This will be the third time the Panthers have played the Jumbos this season; the Panthers won 2-1 in an overtime match in the regular season and 1-0 in the NESCAC Championship. The Panthers aim to capture their fourth NCAA title, having previously won in 1998, 2015 and 2017 and advancing to the finals in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2011. The game will be streamed on NCAA.com here, starting at 1 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Takes Home NCAA Regional Title

This past weekend, Middlebury women’s soccer hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, beating out Maine Farmington and Ithaca College to keep its season alive. The Panthers’ first-round matchup against the Maine Farmington Beavers on Saturday, Nov. 10 was a 4-1 easy win for the third-ranked Panthers. Abigail Byler ’19, Olivia Miller ’20, Eliza Van Voorhis ’21 and Eliza Robinson ’21 scored a point each for Middlebury, while their opponents could only manage to put up one. Middlebury boasted a 51-2 shot advantage over the Beavers and held each of the game’s 16 corner kicks.  Fresh off their first-round win, the Panthers headed into their second game of the weekend on Sunday, Nov. 11 to try to win the NCAA regional final title. This matchup against Ithaca certainly proved to be more of a challenge than that of the previous day, as regulation time ran out with the teams still standing at 0-0. A double overtime gave no advantage for either team, and for the second time in two weeks, Middlebury headed into a shootout to fight to keep its season alive. Despite much back-and-forth action during the field play, Middlebury easily dominated the shootout and proved itself as the team deserving the regional title. Shootout goalie Eva Shaw ’19.5 of Middlebury heroically stopped all three of Ithaca’s attempts, while Sarah DiCenso ’19, Ellie Greenberg ’20 and Cate Shellenback ’22 all made theirs on the flipside for the Panthers. This marks just the eighth NCAA regional final win ever for Middlebury women’s soccer, another definite indication of the Panthers’ incredible season this fall. Now, Middlebury will move on to the tournament’s sectionals next weekend, in which it will host one of the four sectional sites. The Panthers will face Swarthmore College on Saturday, Nov. 17, and a win will propel them to the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Football Finishes Fourth in NESCAC, Loses to Tufts

The Middlebury football team fell to the Tufts Jumbos 35-13 this past Saturday, concluding its season with a 5-4 record and a fourth-place finish in the NESCAC conference. Though Middlebury put up a tough fight, Tufts took the game in the third quarter, sealing the Panthers’ fate. Throughout the first half, both teams were able to come away with a pair of touchdowns. Middlebury set the tone in its first drive of the quarter, plucking away at yardage, until sophomore QB Will Jernigan punched the ball in from the seven-yard line. A high-intensity Panther defense came onto the field in response, looking to deflect a Jumbo touchdown. Tufts, however, made its way down the field a few minutes later. With 6:12 left in the quarter, the Jumbos connected in the end zone to even out the scoreboard, 7-7. The rest of the quarter went scoreless. Two more scores created a thrilling second quarter, starting with a Panther interception by junior Coltrane Marcus. After this turnover, Jernigan was able to hit senior wide receiver Jimmy Martinez with a 28-yard reception. Martinez brought the ball down to the nine-yard line, where Jernigan sealed the touchdown. After a missed extra point attempt, the Panthers were up 13-7. One more Jumbo score right before halftime, making the score 14-13, altered this Panther momentum. Going back onto the field after halftime, Tufts was able to come out guns blazing. Three more touchdowns later, and a clock set to 0:00, both teams’ seasons ended. The 35-13 win placed Tufts third in the conference, while the Panthers ended up fourth. Overall, the Panther team’s season was highlighted by a big win against Williams, redeeming the last-second loss of the 2017 season. The team also beat a .500 record, placing them in the top half of the conference. 

SGA to Fund Financial Aid for Lessons at Snow Bowl

The college has long winters, a January term and its own ski mountain: the perfect winter recipe. However, the accessibility of the sport is limited by its steep financial costs. Ski passes and equipment can easily soar into the hundreds and even thousands of dollars, preventing many students from being able to enjoy the slopes. On Sunday night, the Student Government Association (SGA) passed a Snow Bowl Scholarship Bill allocating $2,500 towards the scholarship fund. The bill was conceptualized by Jacob Freedman ’21 and Alex Gemme ’21, who put together the scholarship fund for students on financial aid to be used towards skiing, telemark skiing and snowboarding lessons at the Middlebury Snow Bowl. Freedman and Gemme both work as instructors at the Snow Bowl.  Students will receive up to $200 that can be used for the lessons and equipment rentals for the season, costing $100 each. [pullquote speaker="Jacob Freedman '21" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]Skiing is a really inaccessible sport for a lot of people. We see the people who come and take lessons and more often than not it’s people who can afford it.[/pullquote] In addition to the SGA allocation, Freedman and Gemme have already acquired $1,600 and are looking to get $900 more. In total, the $5,000 fund will give 25 to 50 students subsidized lessons and rentals.  “Skiing is a really inaccessible sport for a lot of people. We see the people who come and take lessons and more often than not it’s people who can afford it,” Freedman said. “Skiing is a great sport and a huge part of the culture, so it makes sense to be able to have all sorts of students be able to participate in this thing that’s really cool and unique to the school.” According to Powder Magazine, 72 percent of the skiers in the United States are white and more than half earn a salary of $100,000 or greater. The scholarship fund will hopefully increase diversity in a sport that has historically been perceived as a homogenous demographic.  The process to set up the scholarship fund has been riddled with obstacles. Gemme and Freedman initially went to the Advancement Office to seek funds, but were told to come back with data about the need for such scholarships. The two students sought money from various campus sources, but were often referred to other places due to the scholarship’s unique distinction of being neither an extracurricular nor an event or speaker. The students quickly found overwhelming anecdotal evidence that students were interested in taking ski and snowboarding lessons, but were daunted by the costs.   Freedman and Gemme’s first success came from the Seizing Opportunities fund, an allocation designed to ensure that students, regardless of financial status, have access to activities that span all aspects of college life. Chief Diversity Officer Miguel Fernández allocated $1,600 dollars from the Seizing Opportunities fund towards the Snow Bowl scholarship fund in early October.   Freedman and Gemme then worked with SGA Senators William Kelly ’21, John Schurer ’21, and Christian Kummer ’22 to pass a bill that would allocate an additional $2,500 to the Snow Bowl fund. The bill passed nearly unanimously, with only one opposing vote. The $2,500 will come from SGA’s current $175,000 reserves. Senator Rehan Zafar ’21, who voted against the proposal, expressed concern regarding passing an initiative that they may not be able to finance in the future.  The two students are also seeking $900 from the ICC in order to round out their goal of a $5,000 fund. The fund will be overseen by a staff member of the college, who can access students’ financial aid records to determine which students need the scholarship the most. [pullquote speaker="Alex Gemme ’21" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]Ski culture is something that the college embraces really fully, but it’s not something that everybody at the college has access to.[/pullquote] In addition, the pair is now attempting to secure a supply of helmets that can be rented out. This process has proven complicated because liability concerns prevent the Snow Bowl from renting out helmets and thus must be purchased individually. The price of a helmet, however, may deter riders from purchasing the protective gear. “Helmets are optional; it’s not a rule at the Bowl,” Gemme said. “But they’re great. Beginners probably want to wear helmets. We think that some helmet, even if it’s used and shared and a little scratched up, is better than no helmet.” Students can apply for Snow Bowl scholarships via Handshake. Lessons are taught by Middlebury students every week day at the Snow Bowl during January term and are from 2-3 p.m., and in the morning by request. Last year, 90 students participated in the Snow School lessons.  The ACTR bus offers nearly hourly rides to the Snow Bowl. Students can schedule up to five lessons and can earn Physical Education credit if they attend at least 4 lessons. Freedman compared the Snow Bowl cost, $100 for five lessons, to a day’s worth of ski lessons at Killington, which costs $140. “Vermont celebrates the winter time as a great time of the year,” Gemme said. “Part of the Feb experience at graduation and at orientation both take place at the Snow Bowl, so ski culture is something that the college embraces really fully, but it’s not something that everybody at the college has access to.”