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(10/03/12 9:06pm)
Saturday, Sept. 29, Middlebury improved to 2-0 with a 42-13 win over Colby in Waterville, Maine. The game was a tale of two halves for the Panthers, who turned the ball over three times in the first half, and found themselves in an early deficit. The momentum — and the game — turned at the stroke of halftime.
Already trailing Colby 13-7 with six seconds left in the first half, the Panthers faced the possibility of falling behind by two scores with the Mules lining up to attempt a 28-yard field goal. Instead, Matthew Crimmins ’14 came off the edge, laying out to block the kick, which was scooped up by Joel Blockowicz ’15 and returned 86 yards for a touchdown. Middlebury tacked on the extra point as the final act of the half, completing a 10-point swing and taking a 14-13 lead at the break.
“It was incredible, because Colby was going to go in flying high and we were going to be thinking about all those turnovers and how poorly we played,” Ritter said. “[Then the blocked kick returned for a touchdown] happens and all of a sudden we’re jumping up and down on the sidelines and we’re running into the locker room, everyone’s high–fiving and excited because we’re ahead by one [despite] playing so poorly, so it was a huge momentum shift.”
Middlebury seized control of the game in the second half, as quarterback Mac Foote ’14 and wide receiver Zach Driscoll ’13 connected for three second half touchdowns, adding to one first half, as well.
“We liked the coverage we were getting,” Driscoll said. “The defense was focusing a lot of its attention on [Billy Chapman ’13]. It seemed like they were putting a lot of attention inside, which gave me an opportunity [on the outside] in my one-on-one matchups, with a little bit more space, and [Foote] recognized that. He was throwing some great balls and making great reads.”
The Panthers took the opening drive of the second half and marched 74 yards on nine plays — all through the air — to take a 21-13 lead. Foote completed six of nine attempts on the drive, including a 36-yard pass to Brendan Rankowitz ’15 before finding Driscoll on fourth and seven from the Colby eight-yard line for the score.
After forcing a three-and-out on the Mules’ subsequent drive, Middlebury was primed to extend its lead. Following a 37-yard completion to Rankowitz, however, Foote was intercepted for the second time by Colby defensive back Jason Buco at the Colby three-yard line.
Despite Middlebury’s fourth turnover of the game, the Panthers defense, led by Tim Patricia ’16 and defensive captain John Wiet ’13, nearly added to the score with a safety. On first down from the Colby three-yard line, Patricia, the Panthers first-year linebacker, brought down Colby running back Justin Ciero for a three-yard loss at the shadow of the goal line — one of his team-leading 11 tackles in the game.
“[Patricia] has an inordinate amount of poise for a first-year player,” Ritter said. “He really understands the game, understands what we’re trying to do and he has the ability. What holds first-years back most of the time is the speed of the game and the mental part of the game and he’s very in tune to what we’re doing.”
Wiet echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“[Patricia] has been a huge addition to our team,” the defensive captain said. “He’s stepped up in ways that people didn’t expect.”
Bolstered by the play of the defense and excellent field position, Foote — who started the third quarter with 23 consecutive pass attempts — found a rhythm, leading the Panthers on three straight touchdown drives, extending the lead to 42-13 in just over 12 minutes. The junior from Newton, Mass. passed for 240 of his 388 yards and four of his five touchdowns in the second half despite sitting out the majority of the fourth quarter.
Driscoll, meanwhile, had a career afternoon, hauling in 11 receptions for 128 yards and four touchdown catches, earning NESCAC Player of the Week honors for his performance. Number 11 ignited the offense as all but two of his receptions resulted either in first downs or touchdowns, including a number of long catches on third, and even fourth and long.
On the far side of the field, meanwhile, his teammate Rankowitz gave the Colby secondary fits as he continued running by defenders en route to seven catches for 110 yards and a score, highlighted by catches of 36 and 37 yards.
“Any time you have a wide receiver who’s making the plays [Rankowitz] is making it’s enormous because [the defense] can’t do things where they try to take [Chapman] or me out of the game,” Driscoll said. “So him having a big game is paramount to our success as a team this season.”
While running back Remi Ashkar ’13 struggled to gain yards on the ground — he rushed 10 times for just 27 yards — the offensive line was nearly perfect in its protection of its quarterback, Foote, not allowing a sack on more than 50 passing attempts for the second straight week and giving up just three quarterback hits.
“[The offensive line] is doing a great job. They take a tremendous amount of pride in what they do, Coach Early does a great job of coaching them and those guys take it personally in terms of protecting the quarterback and opening holes for [Ashkar].”
Defensively, meanwhile, the Panthers were dominant, blanking the Mules in the second half and limiting Colby to just 13 points total despite four Middlebury turnovers.
“We have a lot more experience with another year under the same [defensive system],” said Wiet. “People are a lot more familiar with it and [they] are stepping into their roles.”
The team will face their biggest test of the early season this Saturday, Oct. 6, with defending NESCAC Champions Amherst (2-0) traveling to play at Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium.
(09/26/12 11:41pm)
Head coach Bob Ritter has the same goal heading into every season — start 1-0. Saturday, his team accomplished just that, pulling away from a banged-up Bowdoin team for a 42-18 win.
Middlebury, which led the NESCAC in total offense last season, had trouble igniting its high-powered offense early in the game. The Panthers defense, however, was dominant from the start, intercepting Bowdoin quarterback Grant White’s first pass attempt of the game and adding two more takeaways later in the half.
“[Turnovers are] a point of emphasis,” said Ritter. “The pressure we put on the quarterback and some of the things we were doing in the secondary enabled the guys to put themselves in great position [to make plays].”
On the first possession of the game, Middlebury forced the Polar Bears into a third and long, deep in their own territory and jumped all over the play. Linebacker Matt Crimmins ’14 deflected White’s pass attempt into the air, and a hustling Bryant Adams ’14 completed the interception, plucking the ball out of the air.
The Panthers offense took over on the Polar Bears nine-yard line, running the ball twice with Remi Ashkar ’13 before quarterback Mac Foote ’14 connected with Zach Driscoll ’13 from three yards out on third and goal. Driscoll finished the game with five receptions for 74 yards and a team-high two touchdowns.
As well as Driscoll played offensively, his impact on special teams might have been even more important. The senior wideout and long-time punt returner picked up a new job this season, replacing Matt Wassell ’12 as the team’s primary punter. On Driscoll’s first attempt, the Concord, Mass. native boomed a 56-yard punt, knocking the ball out of bounds at the Bowdoin eight-yard line. Driscoll punted three times on the day, pinning all of them inside the 10-yard line, including a 39-yard boot, which was downed on the two-yard line.
“[Driscoll] is a great player for us — he really set the tone with his punting,” Ritter said. “We only had three punts and two of them he knock[ed] inside the ten. That was a huge part of our success defensively.”
Driscoll gave the defense great field position and the defense returned the favor to the offense, forcing two punts and intercepting two passes on the Polar Bears’ first four possessions. Joel Blockowicz ’15 was responsible for the second interception, flashing into the passing lane and picking off another White pass. The sophomore cornerback returned the ball seven yards to the Bowdoin 20-yard line.
Despite the great field position, however, the offense failed to capitalize, punting twice and falling short on a fourth down deep in Bowdoin territory.
The team’s offensive woes extended into the second quarter as the Panthers failed to convert on their second consecutive fourth and two, turning the ball over on downs at the Bowdoin 26-yard line.
“I think some of it was the first game [and adjusting to] game speed,” Ritter said, addressing the offense’s slow start. “It was pretty windy, which might have affected some of the deeper throws, as well.”
Now leading just 7-3, the Middlebury offense finally found its rhythm as Foote established a rapport with wide receiver Brendan Rankowitz ’15, connecting with the sophomore for a 24-yard touchdown pass, the first of Rankowitz’s career. It was one of seven catches on the day for Rankowitz, who led the team with 77 yards receiving in his second career start.
“He had seven catches and three of them were really big catches,” Ritter said of Rankowitz. “He got us out of a hole in one, got us a critical first down on another ... it was great to see someone step up. We were hoping he could be this kind of receiver. It allows us to keep spreading the ball around.”
With a 14-3 lead, the Panthers defense preyed on another errant Bowdoin pass. Backup quarterback Thomas Romero — playing in relief of White who sustained an injury — floated a pass directly at strong safety Jared Onouye ’14, who returned the interception 18 yards to the Bowdoin 20-yard line.
This time the offense wasted no time putting points on the board, with Foote completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Billy Chapman ’13 on fourth and six, expanding the Middlebury lead to 18. Foote and Chapman connected seven times on the afternoon for 76 yards and two scores.
Middlebury’s only defensive glitch of the half came on the Polar Bears’ final possession before the break. Facing a third and eight from the 25-yard line, Romero completed a 40-yard pass — his longest of the day — to Nick Goldin. Four plays later, Romero completed a 28-yard pass to receiver David Black for the Polar Bears’ only passing touchdown of the game. The ensuing point after try, however, was blocked, giving the Panthers a 21-9 half-time advantage.
Middlebury opened the second half with a clinical, 12-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a one-yard run by Ashkar. Rankowitz kept the drive alive, however, hauling in a 12-yard pass from Foote on fourth and six from the Bowdoin 27-yard line. Ashkar, meanwhile, was steady and dependable, rushing for 79 yards on 19 carries while catching three balls for 25 yards.
The Polar Bears responded with a touchdown drive of their own, driving 90 yards on 10 plays in under four minutes to draw within 10. Following the Greg Pierce touchdown run, head coach Dave Caputi opted to go for two, in an attempt to make it a 28-20 game with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter. The attempt was unsuccessful and Bowdoin never challenged again.
Middlebury added two fourth quarter touchdowns to seal the victory as Foote completed touchdown passes of 19 and 25 yards to Driscoll and Chapman, respectively. The nation’s top passer from last season once again put up staggering numbers, finishing the game with 285 yards passing and five touchdowns while completing 26 of 44 attempts. The performance earned him NESCAC Player of the Week honors, the third time Foote has won the award in his short time at Middlebury.
Middlebury’s offensive success in the second half was due in part to better timing between Foote and his receivers, but in large part to the play of the offensive line, as well. Bookended by tackles Ryan Moores ’13 and Jack Allard ’14 and bolstered by interior lineman Ling Zhou ’13, Harris Huguenard ’13 and Benjamin Green ’14 the Panthers boast one of the most talented and experienced units in the conference.
“We’ve got a lot experience on the offensive line,” Huguenard said. “We only gave up nine sacks [as a unit] last year and our goal this year is to give up even less. [Foote] does a great job of getting the ball out early and reading the defenses, too, which makes it easier for us.”
The group easily overmatched an inexperienced Bowdoin defensive line, which did not return a single starter from last year’s team, opening holes for Ashkar and passing lanes for Foote.
“Our offensive line did a tremendous job not only blocking the run game and getting some great push, but to throw the ball 44 times without [allowing] a sack is pretty incredible,” Ritter said.
Equally important — and much more surprising — was the play of the defense, which dominated Bowdoin, though injuries to the visitor’s top running back and quarterback certainly played a role. Tri-captain John Wiet ’13 led the charge, totaling 10 tackles and a sack. First-year linebacker Tim Patricia ’16 was impressive in his first game, finishing with nine tackles. Cornerback Dan Kenerson ’13, meanwhile, added to pass deflections to his six tackles.
The Panthers travel to Colby this weekend to play the Mules (0-1). Middlebury beat Colby 41-15 last season at Youngman Field.
(09/19/12 11:42pm)
Before I begin, remember that I write this with the utmost love for the College and its athletics programs.
We need a new mascot.
There is nothing about the panther that's specific to Middlebury or to Vermont. There is nothing about the panther that's specific to anything, really. According to Wikipedia, 33 schools across the country "boast" the panther as their mascot or nickname, making it the fourth most common college mascot. And that doesn't count schools like UVM, our neighbors to the north, whose nickname is the Catamounts, which is just a fancier way of saying panther.
Further, there isn't a strong historical connection between Middlebury and the panther. Director of Athletics Erin Quinn, an often reliable historian of Middlebury athletics, could provide no explanation for the decision, and a quick perusal of the written history of The College on the Hill also yielded no answer. Instead, a recent review of the different sculptures and art on campus titled "Art in Public Places" written by Director of the Middlebury College Museum of Art and Walter Cerf Distinguished College Professor Richard Saunders, provides the answer to this central question: "The black Panther was chosen as Middlebury's mascot after a local merchant established a contest to choose an appropriate symbol for the college in 1922."
The unnamed merchant may deserve the benefit of the doubt, as there were likely panthers in Vermont in 1922, but they left this region long ago, as they did throughout the Northeast.
It's high time, therefore, that Middlebury embraced a new mascot and nickname – one better suited both to the locale and to the NESCAC as well. Middlebury's conference rivals have little regard for convention when it comes to their mascots and nicknames. Only Wesleyan (the Cardinals) and Bates (the Bobcats) have generic nicknames; the mascots of the rest of the conference range from the ungulates – the Camels of Connecticut College and the Jumbos of Tufts – to glorified school founders, such as the Ephs (Williams' tribute to founder Ephraim Williams, but manifested in the form of a purple cow) and the Lord Jeffs (Amherst's nickname, deriving from Lord Jeffrey Amherst who, in addition to founding Amherst, was responsible for distributing smallpox-infested blankets to the Native Americans during the French and Indian War).
However misguided some of the mascots may be, there is clearly a desire for creativity and individuality with respect to the nicknames of our NESCAC counterparts. And, with the exception of Conn. College, less popular mascots do not appear to lead to negative externalities on such things as the school's ability to recruit.
Middlebury, therefore, cannot help but consider a switch. And, by chance, there is a mascot that combines the ungulate characteristics of the camel and the elephant while instilling a sense of Middlebury pride – an animal, in fact, much larger than a panther and one that continues to roam the forests of Vermont: the moose.
If you have not had a chance to see a moose during your time in Vermont or elsewhere, it is difficult to describe the elegance and majesty of the elusive creature. Moose are not lanky and awkward, but powerful and graceful; more similar to a deft left tackle or a bruising power forward, than one might think.
And while largely docile creatures, the moose becomes strikingly aggressive when threatened. According to the Yellowstone National Park, moose attack more people than bears and wolves combined.
The size and strength of the moose means the great creatures have few natural predators, befitting of a school that just won its first Directors' Cup. Their inclination for solitude and sobriety, meanwhile, are befitting of a school founded in the principles of the liberal arts, which include pause for reflection and contemplation of the higher things. Could any animal represent these ideals better than the moose?
If nothing else, imagine 2,000 fans at Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium yelling in unison on third and long, "Mooooooooooose."
(09/19/12 11:25pm)
The Middlebury volleyball team began conference play last weekend with a split result. The Panthers shut out Wesleyan for their fifth consecutive win on Saturday, Sept. 14 before falling to Connecticut College the next day. The Panthers played two tight games; six of the team's eight sets were determined by two points. In the NESCAC opener at Wesleyan, Middlebury won three straight sets by two points, clipping the Cardinals 27-25, 25-23, 29-27.
"We've been talking all season about being aggressive, even in those crucial points, and we really carried that out against Wesleyan," said tri-captain Madeline Firestone '13. "Even when we were down in the match there was never any hesitation. During those points we focused on winning the game ourselves, rather than waiting for [them] to make a mistake."
After blowing a 23-16 lead, the Panthers found themselves on the wrong end of set point, trailing 25-24 following a 7-1 Wesleyan run. Middlebury rallied back, winning each of the next three points to take the first set 27-25. The visitors finished the set in emphatic form, taking the lead with a service ace from senior Julia Gibbs '13 and ending the set with a kill from outside hitter Meg Anderson '14.
In the second set Middlebury yet again built a seven-point lead only to see it dwindle as the Cardinals scratched and clawed their way back into the set, cutting the Panthers lead to one at 24-23. This time it was Firestone '13 who halted the rally, closing out the set with a kill of her own.
The Cardinals showed signs of forcing a fourth set, jumping out to a 17-11 lead – their largest of the game – in the third set. The Panthers responded with a 12-6 run, tying the game at 23 and, after the Cardinals fought off two game points, Middlebury finally sealed it on a kill from Amy Hart '14.
"[The win] was a total team effort," Firestone said, "but [the] performances by Meg Anderson and Amy Hart really made a difference."
The two juniors led the team with 10 kills apiece, leading the Panthers to victory and a 5-1 season record.
The Panthers were not so fortunate in the second game of the weekend, falling in five sets to Conn. College. Just three points separated the teams over five back-and-forth sets, with Middlebury finally falling 15-13 in the fifth set.
The Panthers were led by Hart and Megan Jarchow '14, who combined for 35 total kills. Gibbs, meanwhile, racked up 54 assists and 19 digs from her setter position and tri-captain libero, Caitlin Barrett '13 recorded 32 digs.
Middlebury won the opening set 29-27, extending the team's streak of sets won by two points to four and giving the Panthers the early advantage in the game. The Camels won each of the next two sets, 25-23 and 25-18, respectively, before Middlebury drew level with a 25-19 fourth set victory, forcing a decisive fifth set.
Here, the Panthers fell just short of their sixth straight victory and a 2-0 start in conference play.
"As in any fifth set of a NESCAC game, the atmosphere was definitely intense," Firestone said. "However, we didn't lose our cool and went point for point with Conn. It was an incredibly competitive match and in the end it just came down to the little things."
Firestone and company travel to New London, Conn. this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22, for the Coast Guard Invitational, a brief pause in the NESCAC schedule before they resume conference competition again next week with home games against Williams, Colby and Bates.
"We know we can win close games," said the senior mid-hitter from Solvang, Calif., "but we also know this year especially, every conference game is going to be incredibly competitive."
(11/16/06 12:00am)
Author: Sports Staff Indoor TrackCoach: Martin BeattyCaptains: Beth Butler, Pascal Losambe and Will McDonoughEvent to Watch: ECAC Championships, March 2-3Martin Beatty is all but ready to buy his ticket to Terre Haute, Ind. the site of this year's NCAA championships. Middlebury's indoor track and field coach is extremely excited about his teams' chances, especially on the women's side, to bring home some NESCAC hardware and send athletes to the NCAAs in mid-March. With the exception of last year's captain, Whitney Creed '06 , the women's squad is bringing back most of last year's core, including NESCAC champions Mary Frederickson '07 (javelin) and Emer Feighery '09 (pole vault)."I don't know if they really have a weakness," Beatty said. "They're pretty strong all-around. If there's any point where they're slightly less strong, it's probably the throws, but even there the difference is slight."Jimmy Butcher '08, is excited for the New Year and the new indoor track season. "Coming off of last season, we had a bunch of great runners who we lost to graduation. Our biggest challenge will be getting people, especially freshmen, to step up and fill those shoes," he said."We have a terrific group of freshmen men's mid-distance runners," said Beatty. "I don't think we've ever had this talented a group." That group includes seven first-year contributors: Chris Free, Russel Griggs, Bruce Hallett, Michael Waters, Michael Panzer, Peter Hoffman, and Victor Guevara.Beatty expects the competition to be stiff, with Williams and Tufts also fielding good teams, but he is optimistic about Middlebury's chances."Our goal is always that we win the NESCAC championships. I want to see a good hard-working group."- Livingston BurgessMen's BasketballCoach: Jeff BrownCaptain: Wilbur HyattGame to Watch: Williams vs. Middlebury, Jan. 27 at 3:00 p.m.Men's basketball is looking to bring the team to prominence this year. Last season's 12-12 finish was certainly better than the 6-18 record they compiled a year earlier, but the season ended on a bad note as the Panthers dropped their final six games. The players are intent on not having such a letdown occur again and, fortunately, their talent seems to be in abundance this year."I think the main thing that is keeping us focused this year is that we realize how much talent our squad has right now," said Captain Wil Hyatt '07. "We know that this should be a big year for us to dominate and then get busy in the NESCAC."Beyond talent, this year's group has experience - only two members of the team are rookies. Hyatt believes that has helped the team's cohesiveness and overall play. "We are still putting things together," he said, "but with so many returning players it has been easier to make the transition from fall-ball to the actual season." The team will emphasize the transition game in particular, as the players will look to push the ball against slower, tired opponents and get easy buckets. "Our biggest strength this year is our depth," Hyatt said. "We will look to push the ball in transition more than we have in the past and really wear teams down. It should be a style that scores a lot of points and is exciting to watch."Hyatt teams up with fellow seniors Evan Thompson '07, Bobby Marcoux '07 and Chris Dowd '07, a talented group that will provide veteran leadership to the young guys.- Jeff KleinSwimming and DivingCoach: Peter Solomon (Swimming) and Lisa Gibbs (Diving)Captains: Rebecca Reingold, Barbara Van der Veer, Liz Rice, Robert Collier, Tim Lux, Michael YoungEvent to Watch: Middlebury Invitational, Nov. 18 at 1:00 p.m.The men's and women's swimming and diving teams are eager to jump in and get the season started. The women, coming off an eighth place finish at the NCAA championships last year, seem poised for another strong season. They return a group of seasoned veterans, including All-Americans Marika Ross '08 and Sara Cowie '08, and have added four promising first-years to the team. This exceptional mix has Captain Liz Rice '07 excited."The team is the strongest it has ever been in my four years at Middlebury, and we are going to surprise the teams that have traditionally been our toughest opponents," she said. "Our most important strength is our depth." On the men's side there is also great optimism for the upcoming season, after violations of team policy brought last season to a premature end. The team will be led by Co-Captains Rob Collier '07 and Tim Lux '07, who both have NCAA championship experience. Returnees Kevin O'Rourke '09, Zach Woods '09, Guillermo Garcia '08 and talented first-years Schuyler Beeman, John Dillion and Brooks Farrar are also expected to make immediate contributions. Middlebury is expected to have the best medley relay team and the top drivers in the NESCAC. Lux noted that this year brings "great potential for a much improved dual meet season." The women have already kicked off their season with the annual Blue-White meet.Both teams start their regular season at the Middlebury Invitational this weekend.- Allison OrtegaWomen's HockeyCoach: Bill MandigoCaptains: Shannon Sylvester, Shannon Tarrant and Emily McNamaraGame to Watch: Bowdoin vs. Middlebury, Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m.The women's hockey team rarely likes to talk about winning NCAA championships during the season for superstitious reasons. That being said, it is hard to imagine that the thought has not crossed the players' minds once or twice as they head into the season looking to defend their back-to-back-to-back national crowns. It seems almost blasphemous to single out individual players among a group that is so team-oriented, but offensively, key returnees include forwards Annmarie Cellino '09 and Tri-Captain Shannon Sylvester. Cellino, a second-team All-American and NESCAC Rookie of the Year, led the team with 26 goals and 21 assists last season. Sylvester, one of this year's captain, is an offensive threat whose scrappy play is known to motivate her teammates.Defensively, expect the Panthers to be led by Tri-Captains Shannon Tarrant '07 and Emily McNamara '07. The unique system that the Panthers implement under Coach Bill Mandigo includes two forwards and three backs, rendering the position of center back incredibly important. Tarrant, a second-team All-American for the past two seasons, will occupy it. McNamara should solidify the defense with her smarts and solid stick skills. The big question for the Panthers this season is the one between the pipes. After losing Kate Kogut '06 to graduation, this year's starter has yet to be named. A three-way competition for Kogut's replacement exists between Angie Todd '08, Abby Smith '08 and newcomer Lani Wright '10. Luckily, Kogut has agreed to stay on this year as an assistant coach. As always, the Panthers are not without their share of incoming talent. Look for Ashley Bairos '10 to contribute offensively and Jess Bennet '10 and Marjie Billings '10 to fill important roles on the blueline. "Talent wise, this is the best team I've played on during my three years at Middlebury," said Sylvester. "If we use our individual talent collectively we'll have a successful season."- Seth MiranWomen's BasketballCoach: Noreen PecsokCaptains: Carlie Harrington and Dana WeissmanGame to Watch: Amherst vs. Middlebury, Jan. 19 at 7:00 p.m.The women's basketball team tips off the season this Saturday in the Amherst College Tournament in a game against Piedmont, looking to improve on last winter's 14-10 record. After finishing ninth in the NESCAC last season, Middlebury has looked mostly outside of New England for talent, adding th
ree first-years from North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Hawaii, as well as a fourth from Vermont. Coach Noreen Pecsok, who returns for her ninth year, looks to blend the talent of these four first-years in with the strength of her cast of eight returning players.Despite its .583 winning percentage, the Panthers only mustered two wins in nine tries against NESCAC opponents. Last year, it was Middlebury's defense that kept the team in games, surrendering only 56.0 points per game, which was the third best in the NESCAC. They gave up 65 points on only four occasions. Forward Alanna Young '08 is expected to continue pilfering the opposition - she has the third highest steals per game average (2.08) of any player returning to league play. The Panthers will need to step up at the offensive end, as they were outscored 506 to 555 in conference play last season. Fortunately, the top two scorers from last year, Katie Fisher '08 at 11.8 points per game and Young at 7.9 points per game, return to the court stronger and with an extra year of experience. The squad was known for its late game heroics last year with a 6-2 record in games decided by five points or less.- Andrew DonnantuonoWomen's SquashCoach: Mike MorganCaptains: Hannah Baker and Kara ZarchinTournament to Watch: NESCAC Championship, Feb. 3-4 Led by new coach Mike Morgan and stalwart Co-Captain Hannah Baker '07, the Middlebury women's squash team hopes to improve upon a respectable 14th place finish at last year's National Championship. The headline story of the women's team this year is the arrival of Coach Morgan, who also serves as the women's tennis coach. He is looking to present the team with a fresh start and clear goals. Morgan noted, "We have a great group this year and I'm looking forward to getting them in better shape, and creating a family-like environment."Taking one look at this year's roster, however, creating team chemistry should not be an issue for Morgan. There are seven returning players from last year's squad, all of whom started in the top-nine seeds. Tack on two more players returning in January from abroad, one Feb and one first-year and you get a team that is consistently strong from the top of the ladder to all the way to the bottom.At the top is Baker, who was a finalist in the consolation round of the B bracket at Nationals last year. Behind her is a trio of sophomores, Sarah Hatfield, Caroline Woodworth, and Avery Tilney. The two new players are Elisabeth McMorris '9.5 and Brooke Beatt '10, but as Beatt says, "Even though I'm [new], I feel really included." Morgan is particularly excited because he notes that this year's squad is "willing to be pushed to the limit physically." Armed with Morgan's fitness expectations, ability and ladder depth, this year's squash team is dangerous.- Simon KeyesSkiingCoaches: Stever Bartlett (Alpine) and Andrew Gardner (Nordic)Captains: Andrew Everett, Zeke Davisson, Lindsay Brush, Tara Martin, Megan Hughes, Chris Rodgers, Jenny Hamilton and Lizzie TorkelsonEvent to Watch: Middlebury Carnival, Feb. 23-24 The 2007 alpine season will begin with a roster filled with experience as well as the addition of new talent coming from Leah McLaughry '10, Jack Reed '10 and Jonathan Hunter '10. The team looks to build upon its success from last season. According to Co-Captain Andrew Everett '07, "We're looking to have a good season. We have the potential individually and we're all great at different moments, but we're striving to put that individual talent together as a unified team." As the alpine team sets off to Copper Mountain, Colo. for a Thanksgiving training camp, skiers will be vying for a limited amount of spots on the carnival team amongst a great wealth of talent. The inter-squad competition will only strengthen the team's individual ability and thus their threat on the EISA skiing circuit. The Panthers have two returning All-Americans, Megan Hughes '08 and Mattie Ford '09, with impressive depth on both the men and women's side. The training for this nordic ski season started almost immediately after the end of last year's race series. Members of the team trained extensively over the summer and look for their work to pay off. Joy Erdman '08, recognizes that the team moving forward thanks to conditioning trips up the Appalachian Gap and along Middlebury's back roads. The team's athletes are well-armed for a demanding race season. Over Thanksgiving, the "nordies" will embark on their annual trip to Yellowstone, Mont. taking a break from their roller-ski training to find some snow.- Anna Furney