Women Defend Lax Title

Author: Kate Nerenberg

The 2002 Middlebury women's lacrosse team has big shoes to fill, coming off a perfect 17-0 2001 season, including capturing the NCAA National Championship. The Panthers, however, seem ready to embrace the challenge of living up to their promising potential.

Leading the way for the Panthers are senior tri-captains Julia Bergofsky, Ali Connolly and Dana Chapin. The team will be looking to Bergofsky, in particular, to pick up where she left off last year. In addition to being named the Division III Midfielder of the Year, she collected other honors, such as being named to the All-American, NCAA All-Tournament and all-NESCAC teams. She has already started on the right foot, picking up the Division III Preseason Player of the Year. Bergofsky was also nominated for the Tewaraton Award Player to Watch, which recognizes her as one of the best 15 players in the nation, of all divisions, male and female.

Fellow captain Connolly should also play an important role for the Panthers, coming off the 2001 season as a 3rd-team All-American, and a member of the all-NESCAC, Academic All-American and Academic All-NESCAC teams. Head coach Missy Foote recognizes Chapin as "fast, flawless and a great checker," who will anchor the defense.

The Panthers will also be looking to the 2001 National Rookie of the Year, Nuala O'Donohoe '04, who registered 36 goals and 15 assists last season, to help balance out the midfield. Rounding out the middle is Char Glessner '03.5, last year's third leading scorer for the Panthers, who was named to the Preseason All-NESCAC team. Middlebury will be relying on Kristin Hanley '03 to power the attack, after a stellar 2001 season, in which the lacrosse and basketball stangout tossed in 35 goals and assisted on 14 others.

In addition to the 16 returning Panthers, there are also five rookies looking to make an impact. Four first-years, Johanna Rosenfeld in goal, Caitlin McCormick in midfield and Sydney Atkins and Beth Seeley on attack, in addition to sophomore Becca Brakeley on defense, all have a chance to help out Middlebury.

The Panthers will need everyone against NESCAC rival, Amherst, who only had three losses last year all to Middlebury, including a one-goal difference in the National Championship. In 2001, during the regular season, Middlebury ran away with an 18-11 thrashing of the Lord Jeffs at home. Amherst proved to be more of a challenge later in the season, only falling by three goals in the NESCAC championship game where the Panthers came out ahead, again, 12-9.

In the NCAA championship, however, Amherst fought until the very end, into overtime, before the Panthers showed their superiority and came out on top with an 11-10 victory. Both Foote and Connolly also see Williams as a powerhouse this season and remain weary off the challenge such a team poses.

Foote is looking to lead the Panthers to what would be their fourth NCAA championship in six years. However, she does not look past tomorrow: "One of our goals for the season is to become a strong group who develops their potential everyday in practice and games while challenging one another to be their best." Foote boasts an impressive record herself, having led Middlebury to eight straight national semifinals and three national championships.

Connolly adds that, in addition to making each other work hard, the team is looking to "progress throughout the season and get better everyday." What's more, although the team is trying not to look too far ahead, Connolly notes that they all "have in the back of our minds that we want to progress towards the Final Four," the ninth straight for the Panthers, and possibly the third straight national championship. The Panthers begin their quest on Saturday against Bowdoin.