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(01/17/13 2:49am)
Following a promising start to the season that saw the Middlebury men’s hockey team with a record of 4-2-2 at the end of first semester exams, winter break and early January were far less kind to the Panthers. After a disappointing Holiday Classic hosted at Kenyon Arena that saw Middlebury drop consecutive one-goal games to Babson and Wentworth, the Panthers have struggled out of the gate in the new calendar year, posting only one win against Wesleyan out of four games. The team, 5-7-2 overall (4-2-2 in NESCAC,) now must look to rebound from a pair of losses this past weekend against first-ranked Norwich and 11th-ranked Plattsburgh with the heart of its NESCAC schedule approaching.
The slow start to 2013, in many ways, mirrors the trials of last year’s men’s hockey team during the same period. The Panthers posted a lackluster 2-5-2 record last January before winning seven out of eight games to reach the conference title game against Amherst. Head coach Bill Beaney is all too aware of the similarities between this and last year’s team.
“We are now in the same predicament now as we were last year at this time,” said Beaney. “Hopefully we can go on the same kind of run as we did last year to finish this off.”
The year started off well, with a 4-3 win against Wesleyan on Friday, January 4, marking a chance for the Panthers to erase a Holiday Classic tournament that the Panthers, according to Beaney, would like to forget.
“Our confidence was shaken by how poorly we performed in the Holiday Tournament,” said Beaney. “We always gear things towards the NESCAC teams, so to get a win on a road was a good boost for us.”
Louis Belisle ’14 echoed his coach’s remarks.
“We did not end 2012 the way we wanted to, and the team was ready to start 2013 on a better note,” he said. “NESCAC games are always very important for the rankings, and we knew the importance of getting a good start to the new year. We came in the game with a lot of energy and competed the way we did earlier in the year, and that’s what brought us success.”
Against Wesleyan, the Panthers enjoyed solid production from first-years Matt Silcoff ’16 and Evan Neugold ’16, who recorded two and three points in the game, respectively.
Neugold opened the scoring with his third tally of the season just 1:10 into the first period. Then, tied 2-2 headed into the final frame, Silcoff found the back of the net at 6:23 and 8:25, both off primary assists from Neugold, to put the Panthers ahead for good in what became a 4-3 victory.
The next day against Trinity, the Panthers continued the offensive output by putting 54 shots on Bantam keeper Benjamin Coulthard. Middlebury was stymied, however, as Derek Pimentel’s ’15 power-play goal with four seconds remaining in the first period proved to be the only time the Panthers bested Coulthard.
Despite the high shot count, Belisle was not happy with his team’s performance.
“We had a lot of scoring chances but could not capitalize, and Trinity took advantage of the opportunities they got,” said Belisle. “It is frustrating to not end up on top in this type of game, we need to be more opportunistic around the net. The players and the coaching staff were not satisfied with a 2-1 loss, we needed the win and did not get it done.”
Returning home on Tuesday, Jan. 8, the Panthers hosted a rematch of first-ranked Norwich, a team that narrowly defeated Middlebury in this season’s PrimeLink tournament in November. The Panthers held their own against the nation’s top Division III team, but the Cadets converted with two late third-period goals to seal a final score of 3-1.
Belisle, while disappointed with the loss, found the effort to be encouraging.
“I believe that the team once again put up a good fight against Norwich, we only gave them a few chances in the third period,” said Belisle. “We learned that we couldn’t let our guard down against a team of that caliber, and that cost us the game. We know that we can compete against any team in this league, and although we did not get the win, we know the game could have gone either way.”
Last Friday, Jan. 11, however, the Panthers lost to Plattsburgh State by a score of 7-1, a troubling score line for both Beaney and Belisle.
“From the first drop of the puck, we let Plattsburgh play their game and impose their rhythm on us,” said Belisle. “We did not play with the desire to win and the intensity that had made us a tough team to beat earlier in the year.”
“We set up schedule against Norwich and Plattsburgh to toughen us up against good teams headed into conference play,” said Beaney. “Given this, we quite honestly didn’t show up against Plattsburgh, which was cause for concern. We did not play hard, and they had us beat in every facet of the game. It wasn’t a scoring or defensive problem, but we had to be sharper in all aspects of the game.”
Despite only trailing 2-1 at the end of the first period, the Panthers then allowed five straight goals in a loss that was eerily similar to a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Plattsburgh almost exactly a year ago.
A bright spot for the Panthers has been the development of first-year goalie Liam Moorfield-Yee ’16, who despite having an 0-5 record on the season has impressed his head coach.
“I have been pleased with his play in every game. I took him out [against Plattsburgh] because the rest of the team wasn’t playing and I didn’t want to subject him to it,” said Beaney. “He will play this weekend and I feel very good about where he is in his development.”
On the whole, Belisle points to the need for his team to transition back to what made it successful in the early going.
“I believe that we have a very talented group of players, but skills alone will not put the puck in the back of net,” said Belisle. “We need to go back to what worked earlier this season, play an intense game, takes lots of shots on net and be aggressive on rebounds and lose pucks, and good things will happen.”
Looking forward, the Panthers, who still sit at fourth in the NESCAC in spite of their recent woes, will face Colby and Bowdoin in conference action at Kenyon Arena this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18 and 19.
(12/05/12 6:27pm)
The Middlebury men’s hockey team hosted a pair of NESCAC opponents, Connecticut College and Tufts University, this past weekend, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The two-game set started off with mild frustration, as the Panthers surrendered the game-tying goal to Conn. Coll. with 1:35 remaining in the third to settle for a tie. That frustration was erased on Saturday, however, as NESCAC Player-of-the-Week Louis Belilse ’14 propelled Middlebury past Tufts in a 9-2 blowout win with a record-tying performance, netting four goals and two assists. The team now sits at 3-1-2, 2-0-2 in the NESCAC, tied for second in the conference.
Head coach Bill Beaney explained his team’s mentality heading into the weekend after losing 5-4 to in-state rival Norwich in the heartbreaking final of the PrimeLink tournament on Nov. 24.
“Obviously the week before was a tough loss to Norwich, but we were more concerned with the first home game,” said Beaney. “With so many guys playing their first home game, we were worried about nerves and how players would react. At the beginning, we played good defense but we were tentative. Later, we came on and were in great shape, and got the three goals.”
The Panthers started off the game with three good scoring chances in the game’s first seven minutes, but it was the Camels who got on the board first at the 10:06 mark. Connecticut then added another tally 3:37 into the second.
Terrence Goguen ’16, a first-year defender, finally solved the Camels’ keeper off a point shot, with assists from Belisle and Evan Neugold ’16, on the power play 12:05 into the second period. Thomas Freyre ’14 then tied the game for Middlebury 3:05 later, again on the power play, this time off a pass from Goguen. Freyre found the net once more 12:28 in the third for the Panthers’ third extra-man goal, giving Middlebury the 3-2 lead.
However, just as it happened the previous week, the Panthers fell victim to a late goal. What Beaney called a “seeing-eye” shot eluded Middlebury goalie Nick BonDurant ’14, evening the score at 3-3, and that result held through the five-minute overtime.
“It’s one of those things that happens in hockey all the time,” said Beaney. “Part of what makes hockey such a great game is that a team can be outplayed, yet still come out with a tie. Unfortunately, we were probably the team that outplayed them, and I thought we might have deserved better than the tie.”
Saturday erased any feelings of disappointment, however, as the Panthers came out flying against Tufts and had the Jumbos on the ropes by the end of the first frame. Belisle scored his first two goals for the Panthers in the first period, using his speed to blow past Tufts’ defenders in the neutral zone and create odd-man chances. Michael Longo ’14 also scored his third of the year, as the Panthers outshot Tufts 14-3 in the first.
The second period saw the Jumbos pull first-year keeper Derek Metcalfe in favor of regular starter Brian Philips, who played in Tufts’ 5-3 loss the night before at Williams. Philips faired even worse, though, as he was replaced later in the period in favor of Greg Jenkins, Tufts’ third goalie in the game.
Trevor Pollock ’13 converted on his first of the year 4:41 from a shot by Goguen. Robbie Dobrowski ’15 then scored his first career goal off a feed from Belisle at 10:32. Dobrowski ended the day with two goals, scoring late in the third as well. Belisle then recorded his hat trick at 12:50 on an end-to-end rush, before scoring his fourth of the game just minutes later at 13:45.
Belisle’s goal pushed the Panthers lead to 7-0. With an assist on Chris Steele’s ’13 goal with 53 seconds left in the third period, Belisle then tied the modern era (since 1965) record for points in a game with his sixth. He might have broken this record too, as he ripped a shot off the crossbar mid-way through the third period.
The junior defenseman said he was happy that his strong play benefited the team.
“It really was a team effort, and I was fortunate to find myself in scoring position at the end of great plays made by my teammates,” said Belisle. “My line mates and I had great chemistry in the game and connected some nice passes, we used our speed to get by the other team’s defense and we took advantage of our scoring opportunities.”
The game against Tufts finished at 9-2, with seven Panther players recording at least two points.
Assistant coach Jamie McKenna commented on the team’s performance.
“A lot of the guys had strong games for us against Tufts. And I think that’s what you’ll see from this team going forward,” said McKenna. “We have a lot of players that can contribute offensively on any given night and that’s what is going to really help us this year. When all the players are focused and tuned in, you’ll see nights like the one against Tufts. When they aren’t, you’ll see games like the one against Connecticut College.”
BonDurant recorded 11 saves and allowed one goal for the Panthers, and was substituted for sophomore Michael Peters ’15 late in the game. Peters was strong in his debut, letting up one goal on eight shots in the frame.
The big story of the weekend, however, was Belisle’s historic performance.
“What we’ve found with Lou is that coming out of the back the way he does he can find open ice and attack people with speed. As a forward, he didn’t have as many chances to attack open ice with the puck,” said Beaney. “As I’m looking at it as a coach, it’s kind of a head scratcher in that I’m wondering why I didn’t do it before. He’ll probably stay in the back, both because he can generate offense and he can break the puck out of the zone. He is a very tough guy to forcheck.”
Belisle reflected on his achievement.
“It’s definitely a great feeling, so many great players and successful teams have represented Middlebury over the years, and being part of this really is something that I will remember for a long time,” said Belisle. “It’s not something that you think about when you play, I learned after the game that I had tied the records. It feels amazing, and I am happy to contribute offensively to the team’s success.”
Beaney was also impressed with Dobrowski’s two-goal game.
“Dobrowski had the first two goals of his career, and it was nice to see him do well,” said Beaney. He’s put in a lot of work to be ready for this year. He was a guy that only played in two or three games last season, so his performance is a good story of perseverance.”
The Panthers get set to take on Hamilton this Friday night, Dec. 7, before a date with reigning NESCAC champion Amherst on Saturday at 4 p.m. When asked if Amherst was particularly important given the loss to them in NESCAC last season, the answer was definitive.
“I will tell you when Saturday comes around, our guys will be ready to play and there will be extra incentive, no question about it,” said Beaney.
(11/28/12 7:10pm)
Just two weeks into regular season action, the 11th-placed Middlebury men’s hockey team has already seen its fair share of adversity. The now 2-1-1, 1-0-1 in the NESCAC, Panthers battled back from multiple deficits during their first weekend of play, Nov. 16 and 17, to defeat Colby 5-2 and tie Bowdoin 4-4 before suffering a last-second 5-4 loss at the hands of perennial rival Norwich, currently placed second, in the final of the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout on Saturday, Nov. 24. Middlebury also defeated seventh-placed Plattsburgh 3-2 in the tournament semifinal last Friday to reach its first PrimeLink final since the 2008-2009 season.
In the PrimeLink tournament, hosted by Norwich, the Panthers’ opening-round game against the Cardinals offered some redemption for Middlebury, who was defeated 7-0 by Plattsburgh last January. Despite being down 1-0 at the end of the first period, Derek Pimentel ’15 connected in the second period on a rebound chance for his first goal of the year to tie the game at one. First-year Evan Neugold ’16 then converted a goal after shaking a Plattsburgh defender to push the score to 2-1. George Ordway ’15 sealed the game with a goal in the third period for Middlebury, who held on for a 3-2 win.
Coach Bill Beaney remarked on how his team gained confidence throughout the semifinal.
“We didn’t know how we would match up against a top-five team in the country,” said Beaney. “The first seven or eight minutes of the game were played at a pace that we were not used to, but fortunately we stayed with it and from the middle of the first period onwards I feel that we played as well as, if not better, than Plattsburgh. It was a statement and a confidence builder that we could play with one of the best teams in the country.”
The next day against Norwich, the Panthers found themselves trailing 2-1 late in the second period before Matthew Silcoff ’16, named Outstanding Rookie of the Tournament, scored his third of the season on the power play. Mike Longo ’14 then scored 42 seconds later to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead heading into the third.
After a scoreless run of play, Brendan McGovern ’16 scored at the 12:22 mark to extend Middlebury’s lead to 4-2. Unfortunately for the Panthers, a controversial holding penalty at the 13:51 mark saw the Cadets convert on a chance and subsequently head to the power play, a sequence Beaney described as a “perfect storm” in favor of Norwich.
The Cadets scored again in the dying moments of the power play to knot the contest at 4-4. Then, in the waning moments of the third period, Travis Janke of Norwich intercepted the puck and found Colin Mulvey, who scored his second goal in just under four minutes to clinch the PrimeLink title with 6.7 seconds left on the clock.
Despite the gut wrenching loss, Chris Brown ’13 says his team is looking forward.
“I think the PrimeLink Tourney gave us a great snapshot of where we are at this point in the year,” said Brown. “The loss was heartbreaking, but we’re going to take the positives out of this weekend and use it to get better. We’re happy with our effort, and I think we grew as a team big time this weekend. This group can really go somewhere, and our performance in the first four games has shown that.”
Beaney echoed his player’s remarks.
“Playing back-to-back nationally ranked teams was a huge challenge,” said Beaney. “The only way I could be happier is if we had won the game versus Norwich. Even after the game was tied at four, we had three good chances to score. One bounce of the puck and we could have won it. We will come out of this with a much better understanding of what to do to close games out like that.”
The previous weekend against Colby and Bowdoin, one of the biggest stories in the successful NESCAC contests was the emergence of a crop of first-year talent. Silcoff, Neugold and Riley Dickie ’16 all have three points or more after four games.
The form of the team’s younger players encourages both Beaney and Brown.
“I think that we all knew a huge part of our success this year would be dependent on how quickly the younger guys were able to step in and play a role, and the first two weekends have shown that they had no problem doing so,” said Brown. “They’ve been putting pucks in the net up front, and logging some heavy minutes in the back as well. Having four lines that the whole team really trusts out there in any situation is a huge advantage for us.”
“We generally don’t want first-years playing pivotal roles,” added Beaney. “However, these guys have stepped up in even strength, penalty-kill and power play, and when you can get point production it’s a bonus. The first-years have a lot to do with creating the competitive attitude that permeates the team right now.”
Middlebury opens its home schedule against Connecticut College and Tufts this weekend, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, in front of what will be a raucous Kenyon Arena.
“I think this week will be interesting, how we practice and how we prepare,” said Beaney. “We need to be excited to play at home in the NESCAC.”
(11/08/12 12:46am)
The day is January 1, 2013. A jaw-dropping 100,000 spectators pack Michigan University’s football stadium to see the annual NHL Winter Classic contested between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. This is outdoor hockey, the way the game was meant to be played.
Over the past five seasons the Classic has become a symbol of the new-look National Hockey League, a league that has grown exponentially in both popularity and financial might since the labor stoppage that canceled the 2004-2005 season. The Winter Classic now regularly competes for television ratings with traditional NCAA Football bowl games, once a pipe dream for NHL enthusiasts. In fact, the Classic has spun off an annual, popular HBO documentary series called 24/7 that tracks players from the two competing teams leading up the game.
Sounds good, right? One can therefore imagine the hockey world’s collective frustration as last Thursday commissioner Gary Bettman canceled the Classic as part of the ongoing labor dispute between the owners and players’ union.
The league’s immense financial expansion since the last lockout (up to $3.2 billion revenue in 2011-2012) has led the disputants to yet another labor standoff, which began when the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expired on Sept. 15, signaling a halt to the league’s progress over the last seven years. This is why today, nearly a month after the “Opening Night” of Oct. 11, we have yet to see the players touch the ice.
As an ardent hockey fan, even I can understand why owners might balk at the league’s current financial system. Contract values are growing at an unsustainable rate, as exemplified by the Minnesota Wild handing out a pair of 13 year/$98 million mega-contracts to Zach Parise and Ryan Suter this past off-season.
Owners and players are also negotiating the split of hockey-related revenues, a sore subject for the players who received 57 percent under the previous CBA. Other mundane financial factors in the negotiations include the salary cap and free agency terms.
However, nothing epitomizes a lose-lose situation more than a canceled season.
Financially, both sides are already suffering. With the cancelation of all regular season games through Dec. 1, not to mention the Winter Classic, the NHL has already forfeited almost $1 billion in revenue. It is hard to imagine how arguing over percentage points of long-term revenue split makes up for that kind of dough.
In terms of reputation, the NHL is becoming the laughing stock of major American pro sports. Facing its second season cancellation in the last eight years, the NHL is the only league to have lost an entire season due to labor discord. The NFL and NBA both faced similar situations last season, but got deals in place. Setting aside the blame game, both the owners and the players are losing credibility as the lockout continues.
I remember going to Washington Capitals games following the 2004-2005 lockout to see 5,000 fans in the Verizon Center. In recent seasons, that quarter-full arena regularly reached capacity, a trend equally fueled by hockey’s growth and the play of Capitals sensation Alex Ovechkin. Either way, that type of popularity takes years to build and far less time to lose.
Another aspect of the labor stoppage is the ripple effect on the larger hockey economy. Here, I mean the arena ushers, snack vendors and parking attendants that will have at least 41 less days of work this year. While owners and the big-name players get the attention, this consequence is the most unfortunate.
Not to mention the fact that the players are unevenly affected by the lockout. Players who have been in the league for only two or three seasons count on their (often short) careers for life-long financial security. A lost year to them is devastating.
If a deal is reached in time for a shortened season, fans will forgive the NHL. Today, this looks like a long shot. Either way, the lockout is disheartening for life-long fans and takes away from a game that has produced many memorable moments in my life.
I hope that I am wrong. I hope that the two sides reach a new CBA before this article is in print. However, my hope is wearing thin.
With the Redskins fading and the Wizards tanking, how long until MLB spring training?
(10/31/12 8:44pm)
With its fair share of both high points and low points, this season’s edition of Middlebury men’s soccer certainly left something to be desired. The Panthers quietly bowed out in the first round of the NESCAC tournament via a lopsided 4-0 defeat at Amherst, and with it began a long offseason of work to return the program to its championship-caliber stature.
Its 6-7-1 final record marks the first time that the team finished under .500 in Dave Saward’s 28 years as head coach, and prompts the question of how a program typically amongst the best in the region struggled so mightily this year.
The Panthers were hit hard by injuries, with crucial players Jon Portman ’13, Tyler Smith ’14 and Sam Redmond ’15 sidelined for significant portions of the year. Goalie Eric Wilson ’13 also never saw the field. Saward commented on the slew of injuries this year.
“I think that at the end of the day, the number of players that we lost for almost the entire season had a massive impact,” said Saward. “It went on and seemed never-ending, with at one point almost nine players out. I point specifically to Portman, a player that we had counted on to play in influential areas in the midfield. I don’t believe in making excuses, but it certainly had both an emotional and technical impact.”
Sam Peisch ’13.5 refuses to use injuries as an excuse.
“It’s always tempting to say ‘What if ...’ but the reality of the season is that we didn’t get it done when we had to,” said Peisch. “The guys that played in the games didn’t do enough to win. We only have ourselves to blame for that.”
To seal its fate as the NESCAC tournament’s seventh seed, the Panthers traveled to Williams last Wednesday, Oct. 24. Despite being tied 1-1 in the second half, the Ephs quickly countered Harper Williams’s ’15 61st minute goal with one of their own in the 63rd. They then tallied again in the 80th to win 3-1.
In the tournament quarterfinal last Saturday, Oct. 27, Amherst controlled the run of play from the first whistle. The Lord Jeffs converted in the 32nd minute and carried a lead into halftime. Amherst then buried the Panthers in the second half, scoring three goals to seal the final score of 4-0. Saward was impressed with the opponent’s performance.
“In my 28 years of doing this I have watched a lot of good teams, and Amherst is one of the best teams that I have seen at this level,” said Saward. “I was proud how my team represented Middlebury, but the better team won and talent took over. I think that Amherst could go on a run to win the national championship.”
Despite the loss, Peisch’s comments showed that his team never stopped believing.
“To be honest, we all believed we had a shot against Amherst. Our regular season loss against them at home was by no means a blowout, and we had chances to get back into the game,” said Peisch. “In the quarterfinal game we were simply overwhelmed by their combination of size, skill and work ethic.”
Middlebury is now left to turn the page on this season and look towards 2013, a year that contains an equal measure of promise and uncertainty. Sophomores Williams and Dan Skayne ’15 provided flashes of brilliance, while Saward is also excited about the development of Deklan Robinson ’16, a player who played both central midfield and defense this year.
However, without an entrenched starting goalkeeper and question marks on offense, the Panthers line-up next year is far from set.
Regardless of personnel, Peisch is clear on the team’s goal.
“Our task next season is to restore the men’s soccer program as a perennial NESCAC and national championship contender,” said Peisch. “We are excited both about the potential of our incoming [first-years] and a number of underclassmen who started or played in a majority of our games this season. With a small, core group of four-year varsity players as seniors, we are going to dedicate the offseason and summer to achieving this goal.”
Saward has a similar mentality.
“I think the talk might be negative right now, but when the dust settles the team can look at the experience and grow to become better players,” said Saward. “With the addition of a few recruits, we have the pieces. We need to stay healthy, and this is something you can never predict.”
(10/25/12 1:05am)
Coming off a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) that dated back to Oct. 2, the Middlebury men’s soccer team was looking to make a late-season surge into the top part of the NESCAC standings this past Saturday, Oct. 20th against Bates. Despite a large homecoming crowd and a picture perfect day the Panthers fell to the Bobcats 2-0 after Bates scored a pair of second-half goals. The Panthers, with a record of 6-5-1 (3-5-1 in conference), have one regular season game remaining before the NESCAC tournament begins this coming weekend.
The week was made even more disappointing for the Panthers as they had their Oct. 16 fixture against a much weaker Colby-Sawyer side canceled due to heavy rain in New London, N.H. Head coach Dave Saward was not pleased with Colby-Sawyer’s decision to cancel.
“The Colby-Sawyer game was taken away from us, and I was very disappointed with how [their athletic department] handled it,” said Saward. “There’s not anything we can do, but there had to be a way that we could have played that game. In a short, 14-game season, to have one taken away hurts. It also was a doubly disappointing week to have a game taken away and then play like that on Saturday.”
Saturday’s match left much to be desired for the Panthers, who came falling back to earth against Bates after posting a string of promising results in October.
Despite seeing a few close chances just miss the cage in the first half, Middlebury failed to challenge the Bates goalkeeper. Neither side managed to generate much offensive firepower, as the Bobcats only mustered two shots in the direction of Zach Abdu-Glass ’13. Unfortunately for Middlebury, both of those shots found the back of the goal. John Murphy of Williams scored his seventh and eighth goals of the year, in the 52nd and 74th minutes, respectively.
Saward commented to his team’s lackluster offensive production.
“I don’t think that they outplayed us at all, but we defended poorly twice and got punished,” said Saward. “We didn’t take a venomous shot in the entire game, and I don’t remember their goalkeeper making a difficult save. At the end of the day we didn’t have enough punch up front, and our players must take more responsibility for being hungry in the penalty box.”
One bright spot for the Panthers was the return of Jon Portman ’13 to the field, who had been sidelined since early September with a knee injury. Matt Martin ’12.5 spoke to the importance of his teammate’s recovery.
“It was great to see Portman on the field again and you can tell it means a lot to him,” said Martin. “He’s done really well to jump right back into a competitive game and has shown some of what we know he can do. He’s still a little bit limited striking a ball with his right leg, but his weaker left is as good as anyone’s strongest, so he’ll be alright.”
Saward also mentioned that Portman’s recovery is ongoing.
“A lot of [how he will be used] has to do with what he tells me, and fitness-wise he’s not at 100 percent,” said Saward. “We were delighted to get him in, but he was tentative in tackling, which is half of his job description. It will be minute to minute.”
While this past week was dissatisfying for the Panthers, their Oct. 13th performance against Trinity gives some hope for a revival.
Middlebury traveled to Hartford, Conn. and beat its NESCAC rival by a final score of 2-1, powered by two unassisted goals from Alvand Hajizadeh ’13 and Harper Williams ’15. Hajizadeh and Williams now sit at first and second in individual scoring on the team, with 10 and five points, respectively. Abdu-Glass also recorded nine saves in the contest.
Saward commented that the team received a bit of luck in the contest, not always the case for his team this season.
“We got the luck that you needed,” said Saward. “The second goal was somewhat of a goalkeeping error, but Alvand did well following up the rebound. Harper’s first strike was excellent. We didn’t play great but did well enough to win.”
Middlebury will look to regroup as it now turns its attention a road test in the NESCAC quarterfinals this Saturday, Oct. 27.
(10/10/12 11:58pm)
For the past 15 years, the College’s Environmental Council (EC) has worked to further the College’s efforts on sustainability and to spread environmental awareness in the community. The EC recommends changes on the College’s sustainability policy and acts as an adviser to its President.
Avery McNiff ’12, the current sustainability communications and outreach coordinator, spoke to the high level of commitment behind the group.
“The call for applicants helped to recruit individuals who feel connected to our initiatives,” said McNiff. “[They] are excited about making significant progress and improvements this year.”
The EC acts to advise policy in four specific working groups: carbon neutrality, food and dining, grants, and “greening athletics.”
The phrase “greening athletics” is appropriately vague, as the EC has already tackled many small issues in the athletic department through sustainability initiatives such as replacing light fixtures in the athletic center and creating team environmental liaisons.
Now, the Council has plans to move on to more challenging topics.
Andrew Gardner, head coach of the Nordic ski team, has coordinated the athletic department’s sustainability program since 2005 and has been generally inspired by athletes’ environmental prerogative.
“The most impressive thing I’ve noticed in my time here is that most of the sustainability initiatives are self-driven from athletes,” said Gardner. “Not much has been mandated, meaning that every positive step we’ve taken has been done because people have been invested in it.”
These athlete-led initiatives cover a wide range of projects, including the lacrosse team “offsetting its season” by purchasing carbon allowances, to the ski team’s van running on vegetable oil for the past three years.
One of the central undertakings of the Council will involve changing the athletic culture’s ideology to reflect more of the institution’s overall sustainability mission.
In many ways, this concept is groundbreaking in the athletic community, an arena in which success is defined by reaching material wealth through stellar play. The world’s top athletes have new product lines and video games every season, which only encourage more consumption. This ideal is what Gardner seeks to upend.
“In competition, athletics is about efficiency and doing things cleanly,” said Gardner. “Athletes must extend this efficiency into their ways of life. For a skiing coach, climate change has a direct relationship with not achieving environmental sustainability, making sustainability something athletes should strive for.”
In other words, no snow means no skiing.
While most do not have their own product lines, athletes at Middlebury can play their part.Since 2005, Gardner has made a specific point of tracking how many cars enter and leave Kenyon parking lot each day for practice. What he found was that on an average day nearly 60 cars come and go between four and seven.
“In the time that I’ve been here, driving has increased substantially,” said Gardner. “It would be great to see fewer cars arriving every day, and some teams have certainly taken this on.”
Gardner spoke to the “missionary” aspect of the “greening,” in hopes that those who are dedicated to environmental issues already will spread the program’s message among athletes, coaches, fans and the community at large.
As the Environmental Council continues its work this year, look for more open parking spaces.
(10/10/12 11:52pm)
The Middlebury men’s soccer team defeated Hamilton 2-0 on Saturday, Oct. 7 and tied Connecticut College 1-1 on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Harper Williams ’15 scored in the eighth minute on an assist from Dan Skayne ’15 to put the Panthers ahead. The pair connected again for Middlebury’s second goal in the 73rd minute when Skayne deposited his first goal of the season off a helper from Williams.
“As awesome as [Skayne and Williams] were scoring those goals, their most effective play has been in controlling the ball in the midfield,” said Ben Tabah ’13. “They both have unbelievable touch and natural instinct as center midfielders, and that has given us the confidence and ability to give them the ball and have them switch the field and distribute. They’ve been huge for us holding it down without [Jon] Portman ’13.”
Coach Dave Saward echoed Tabah’s praise.
“They’ve stepped into the breach and done a great job with their work rate,” said Saward. “Harper in particular plays every minute and his energy is stellar. I know they have the experience and confidence in themselves going forward. It was also nice to see them rewarded against Hamilton.”
Zach Abdu-Glass ’13 added four saves in the win.
The Panthers final game of the week against the Camels of Connecticut College featured a 1-1 draw that lasted through two extra-time sessions.
Jack Freeman ’13 opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he slotted a penalty kick inside the left post. The Camels answered early in the second, beating Abdu-Glass off a one-timed effort. Abdu-Glass performed well in the net again, recording 10 saves in the extended contest.
The Panther attack has come alive since Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Castleton, after an own goal in the 79th minute opened the floodgates. It took a bit of luck to rejuvenate a comatose attack and deliver a victory to a team ravaged by injury.
“We had outplayed Castleton from start to finish and once we caught a break on the own goal. It was only a matter of time,” said Sam Peisch ’13.5.
Insurance goals from Peisch and Ben Tabah ’13 followed. Since Tuesday’s game, the offense has found its footing.
“We’ve spent a lot of practice just getting the ball into dangerous areas and really going all for broke in the box,” said Tabah. “We have a swagger back because it helps to know we can get the ball in the back of the net.”
The 5-4-1 Panthers take on Trinity this coming Saturday, Oct. 13, before heading to Colby-Sawyer on Oct. 16.
(10/03/12 8:54pm)
Coming off a disappointing weekend that featured two NESCAC losses at home, the men’s soccer team had two opportunities to get back in the win column with games at Wesleyan on Saturday, Sept. 29 and at Castleton State on Tuesdsay, Oct. 2.
Against their NESCAC rivals, the Panthers failed to score for the third consecutive game, failing 1-0 to the Cardinals. While the Panthers managed to generate more opportunities on the offensive side of the ball — a pitfall in their pair of home defeats a weekend ago — they failed yet again to finish in front of goal.
The conference defeat dropped the Panthers to 3-4 overall, with a 1-4 record in the NESCAC. Following the loss in Middletown, Conn., which marked the halfway point in regular season action, senior midfielder Jason Brooke ’13 commented on the growing importance of each game.
“It is impossible to deny that there isn’t a sense of anxiousness given the recent results and the necessity to get some goals and wins,” said Brooke. “That being said there are many things to be positive about. The team has been looking sharper and sharper over the past few games. We physically battled against the neanderthals at Amherst and went toe to toe with Wesleyan, one of the most technical teams in the league.”
The lone goal of the game came in the 35th minute when Wesleyan’s Matt Hertgen notched a header goal off a well-executed cross from the side.
Though the scoreboard did not reflect it, the game also included an increased offensive output from the Panthers, who fired seven shots at the Cardinals keeper, more than they managed in the past two games combined.
“Even though the result was disappointing, as an attacking threat we looked more dangerous in the second half against Wesleyan than we have all season,” said Brooke. “The play was dynamic and guys were really working hard to get into the right positions, things just did not really fall our way.”
Coach Dave Saward shared Brooke’s analysis.
“I felt we definitely did better in generating chances,” said Saward. “We changed the system and put three players up front. We took more risks, and it ended up a tight game against a good team.”
Saward and his team also enjoyed a much smoother run of play following the scrappy Amherst contest.
“There were only five fouls committed in the whole game,” said Saward. “Compared to the Amherst game, it almost looked like a different sport. It was a fun game to watch, and they certainly gave their best effort. In this game, there is such a fine line between having the luck you need and not.”
Dan Skayne ’15 and Harper Williams ’15 had solid performances in the midfield, while Ethan Galliete ’13 played well up front. Goalkeeper Zach Abdu-Glass ’13 also posted six saves in the contest, his highest total thus far in 2012.
“Zach has been incredible at the back,” said Brooke. “He, along with help from the backline, has really kept us in games that could have gotten out of hand early on.”
Tuesday, Oct. 2, the Panthers finally broke their goalless streak, netting a stunning 3-0 victory over Castleton State with three unassisted goals in the game’s final 11 minutes. With 78 minutes already in the books, Middlebury was once again at risk of being shut out. Instead, the Panthers ended the streak in the most auspicious of ways, taking their first lead in more than two weeks off a Castleton own-goal in the 79th minute. Sam Peisch ’13.5 followed ten minutes later, scoring his first goal of the season in the 87th minute, and was quickly followed by Ben Tabah ’13 who extended the Middlebury lead to three in the 90th. The Panthers fired 30 shots in the contest, led by Peisch with seven and Williams with six. Middlebury improved to 4-4 on the season, with three of their wins coming in nonconference play.
The Panthers return to NESCAC play this weekend with games against Hamilton and Connecticut College on Oct. 6 and 7, respectively. With a 1-4 start to conference play, Saward said that what his team needs is a bit of luck in light of its continuing injury problems.
“The big issue for us has been injuries,” said Saward. “I don’t like to use it as an excuse, but it has to be given the six guys that are out. No squad is immune to that sort of decimation. Nobody likes to say it, but we need a bit of luck.”
Saward keeps the situation in perspective.
“I feel better today than Davis Love III [Captain of the USA Ryder Cup team] does,” said Saward.
(09/27/12 12:02am)
The Middlebury men’s soccer team suffered two defeats at home over the weekend, both to NESCAC rivals.
Coming off a three-game win streak that featured both offensive and defensive might, the men’s soccer team anticipated cementing its status as a NESCAC contender. After the team dropped games to Bowdoin (1-0) and Amherst (2-0), however, the Panthers now sit at 1-3 in conference and 3-3 overall, and must head back to the drawing board after being held off the score sheet in consecutive contests.
While the shots statistic may not always be the best indicator of a team’s performance, Middlebury did not offer much challenge to opposing keepers this past weekend. After firing 45 combined shots during its winning run against Norwich, Colby and Plymouth State, the Panthers offense came to a halt at home, managing just five attempts in the two conference games.
Coach Dave Saward spoke about his team’s offensive lapse.
“I believe that shooting is a mental aspect as much as a technical one,” said Saward. “We looked for the perfect shot when we shouldn’t have been. We also need to be more creative in our shot selection and shape shots around defenders.”
Midfielder Sam Peisch ’13.5 echoed his coach’s reaction.
“Being dangerous in the final third is definitely something we need to improve upon,” said Peisch. “This weekend was tough because Bowdoin and Amherst play a style that is not conducive to creating chances, but we definitely need to adjust and attempt to impose our style of play on our opponents.”
In the same respect, Saward also talked about the need for his players to take more risks on the ball.
“The players in forward positions need to have the willingness to fail,” said Saward. “When you look at great strikers of the world, they miss a lot but are also rewarded for keeping at it. The mentality of a finisher has to be selfish. My players are not selfish, but they also need that mentality.”
Another reason for the team’s offensive woes over the weekend was that the two opposing teams held leading-scorer Alvand Hajizadeh ’13 in check. After scoring the winning goal in the last three consecutive contests, Hajizadeh did not record a shot on target, though he did nearly net an equalizer in the second half against Amherst when he fired a shot just wide of the post.
“I wouldn’t say Alvand’s performance has dropped off, just that the quality of the defending was excellent on both teams,” said Saward. “Against strong opponents, it’s that much harder for any striker to find the gaps to get their shots off.”
While both opposing sides from this past weekend are enjoying success this year, Amherst in particular is shaping up to be a national championship threat. The defending NESCAC champion now sits at 5-0.
“They are relentless. They have three or four guys who can hurt you, and in soccer that is a rarity,” said Saward. “That being said, I thought we competed yesterday better than we did against Bowdoin. We had to match their physicality and I was proud of the way the team competed. If we can use that momentum, not the result, we are on the right track.”
Peisch also took some confidence from the Amherst loss.
“I think we showed a lot of heart in the game against Amherst. Even though we lost, we’re confident that we can make a strong run through the NESCAC if we continue to play like we did,” said Peisch.
The team, still awaiting the return of pivotal players Jon Portman ’13, Tyler Smith ’14 and Eric Wilson ’13, and likely to miss Sammie Redmond ’15 for the rest of the year, prepares to head on the road to face Wesleyan this Saturday, Sept. 29.
(09/20/12 12:17am)
Following a listless 2-0 loss in its opener against Tufts, the men's soccer team was in search of help on both sides of the ball. As head coach Dave Saward said after the loss, the team needed "that magical man to put balls in the net." Middlebury has found that man in tri-captain Alvand Hajizadeh '13.
The senior from Williamstown, Mass., who was held to just one shot against Tufts, propelled the Middlebury offense to three straight victories this past week with involvement in all four Panther goals.
Hajizadeh scored his first career goal seven minutes into the contest against in-state foe Norwich on Sept. 11, before adding an assist on Graham Knisley's '14 goal in the 87th minute to cap a 2-0 victory. In overtime on Saturday in Waterville, Maine, Hajizadeh then struck again in the 93rd minute to give the Panthers a 1-0 win over Colby, a team the Panthers have not beaten in four years. He then capped off his weekend with Middlebury's lone goal in the 43rd minute against Plymouth State on Sunday for another 1-0 victory.
Hajizadeh, who had only two assists in a Panther uniform prior to this season, has already surpassed his career-scoring total with his four points over the weekend.
"[Hajizadeh] has really stepped up and carried the team with great performances," said teammate Matt Martin '12.5. "He's playing really well up front and we all think three game-winning goals in a row deserves a NESCAC Player of the Week."
League officials agreed with Martin in this respect, as Hajizadeh received the first Player of the Week award given to a Panther this season.
Hajizadeh's emergence will also alter the game from a strategy perspective.
"His increased output will not change our game plan at all, but it will certainly change how our opponents scout our team," Saward said. "They will now prepare themselves a little more for number nine [Hajizadeh], which will open up chances for other guys to contribute as well."
Just as Hajizadeh's presence in the lineup energized the front end, Saward made several changes in back that solidified a defense that did not allowed a goal in three games. Adam Batista '14 moved from wing midfielder to right back, while Willie Gevertz '14 also provided keeper Zach Abdu-Glass '13 with more structure in the defensive third.
"They [Batista and Gevertz] have had a big influence in shoring up the back, while Zach has done all that has been asked of him in the net," said Saward.
The changes resonated well with Martin as well.
"Putting Batista in the back gives us a lot of pace both in the defense and also getting forward; the kid can run all day," he said. "Abdu-Glass also has been playing really well, stepping up to fill the big shoes of Tim Cahill '12 and developing the same important presence that a goalie needs."
The news was not all good for the Panthers, however, as they were dealt another tough blow with the injury of Sammie Redmond '15 against Plymouth State.
"Injuries are a really tough part of the game, especially with such a short season," Martin said. "With our depth on the bench, however, we should be alright and we need to get behind Sammie and Jon [Portman '13] to make sure they are back on the field as soon as possible."
Another subplot to the week was that the Norwich coaching staff featured the second visiting head coach, Kyle Dezotell '03, (after Josh Shapiro '97, now coaching at Tufts) to have previously played under Saward here at Middlebury. The other was Joseph Shapiro '97, now coaching a Tufts team that sits at 3-0 overall after wins against Wesleyan and Plymouth State this past week, while Norwich is 4-2.
"Probably of all the things I'm most proud of is that some of these guys want to go ahead and have a go at this profession," said Saward.
The 3-1 Panthers have a pair of home NESCAC games on the men's soccer turf this weekend. Middlebury faces Bowdoin on Saturday, followed by the Lord Jeffs of Amherst on Sunday.
(09/19/12 11:39pm)
Following two promising performances at the preseason Granite Cup, featuring a close 10-8 loss to traditional rugby powerhouse Dartmouth, the Middlebury College Rugby Club (MCRC) bested UMASS-Amherst 33-31 this past Saturday, Sept. 15, taking an important step towards qualifying for Nationals this coming spring.
The back-and-forth contest against UMASS featured tries by scrumhalf Alec Mackenzie '15, prop Mike Wysota '14 and a hat trick from fullback Allan Stafford '13.5. The game carried extra significance as the Panthers lost the same game last fall by three points, and later failed to advance to the national tournament in the spring.
In the fall of 2011, the Panthers kicked off the season in largely uncharted territory. After enjoying a run of success in the New England Division II Collegiate Rugby League that saw the team fall just short of a national championship against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater during the previous spring, the MCRC battled through the 2011-12 campaign to establish itself against stronger competition in the team's first season in Division I-AA.
This fall, however, the team has a rigorous preseason camp under its belt and is already getting the results to prove that the MCRC can contend in Division I-AA.
"For us to go out against UMASS and get this result is an incredibly promising sign for this team," said Stafford. "Given that we lost a close game to them last year, it shows that we can win close games and is a big confidence boost going forward."
Forwards captain Ben Stasiuk '13.5 echoed this sentiment with growing confidence.
"Within any transitory period, you have to work out some kinks," said Stasiuk. "After being in Division I for a year, we have now broken the ice and know that we can take care of business against bigger opponents. We have certainly shown this in our games against UMASS and Dartmouth to start the year."
From a personnel perspective, the MCRC is looking to add several players to its "A-side" from an unproven, but promising crop of first-year players. Laird Silsby '15 also figures to play an important role as the starting 8-man, while Brian Sirkia '12.5 is entering his third year as captain and will provide solid leadership for the team. Dylan Whitaker '13, Stasiuk and Stafford round out a formidable line-up.
The foundation of the season, however was laid during the preseason, when the Panthers traveled to Dartmouth to take on the Big Green. With both teams deadlocked at 3-3 for most of the contest, Stafford scored a try with four minutes remaining to put Middlebury ahead 8-3.
The Panthers then missed the kick conversion, which proved to be costly as Dartmouth scored with no time remaining and made the kick to pull ahead 10-8.
There were some positives to be taken from the loss as the MCRC proved it could hang with the best teams in the country. Furthermore, the Panthers recovered well later in the tournament, burying a weaker University of New Hampshire side by a score of 48-0.
"Even without a victory against Dartmouth, it was a solid performance and a game that we should have won," said Stafford.
Due to a feeling of chemistry among the side, and MCRC figures to take some large steps in D1-AA this year.
"Last year's squad wasn't as cohesive as this year's will be," said Stasiuk. "Team chemistry is skyrocketing and leaders are stepping up."
The MCRC will face defending conference champion Northeastern at home this Saturday, Sept. 22, in a game that likely will play a large part in the Panthers march towards nationals in the spring.
The Huskies defeated the Panthers last October by a score of 34-3.