Kenyon Arena Proves No Vacationland for Mainers

Author: Kate Nerenberg

A goal from Lorna Gifis '05 3:19 into the overtime period on Saturday gave the Middlebury women's hockey team a narrow victory over close challengers Bowdoin College, and set the stage for an 8-0 thrashing of Colby College on Sunday. With the two wins, the Panthers snagged the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) season title, and stayed on top of the latest Division III national poll. Because of their success, the Panthers earned a first-round bye for the NESCAC tournament and will serve as a host of the semifinals and championship game March 1st and 2nd. The winner of that tournament goes on to the NCAA Tournament, which the Panthers have won for the past two seasons.

In the first game of the weekend, the Panthers battled a fierce Bowdoin team that was looking to avenge a 3-2 loss earlier in the season. The first period, in which both teams only managed four shots apiece, concluded without any score. In fact, the game remained scoreless until 16 minutes into the second period, when Middlebury's Catherine Elkins '02 found a rebound from a Heather Wende '04 shot and flicked a backhander beyond the Bowdoin netminder.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Jess Burke of Bowdoin evened the score only 1:32 later, following a collision in the crease. This was the last flourish of offense that either team would see in regulation as the third period mimicked the first, with neither team scoring. The Polar Bears had a big chance 8:30 into the period with a five-on-three power play, but Middlebury's defense held up and forced a Bowdoin penalty 45 seconds into the play, putting an end to the Polar Bears' attack.

Ending regulation tied, 1-1, the game was forced into overtime, where Gifis broke the Polar Bears' back with a breakaway goal 3:19 into overtime, giving Middlebury the edge they needed for the win. Megan Hutchinson '02 had 13 saves in goal as Middlebury outshot the Polar Bears, 21-14.

Riding on their success from the previous day, the Panthers easily handled Colby on Sunday, 8-0. Only 3:10 into the first period, Rose Babst '05 put Middlebury on the board with a pass from Abigail Lamb '04. Babst then assisted Amber Neil '03 17:14 to end the period with the Panthers leading, 2-0.

Colby did not go down too easily, however, as they hung tough and threatened on a power play midway through the second. Middlebury was able to turn the tables on their opponents. Instead of earning a goal for themselves, the White Mules gave one up when Gifis scored her first of two goals, a short-handed strike that demoralized Colby in addition to putting the Panthers' score out of reach. Laurie Richmond '02 capped off the scoring in the second-period and the teams went into the second intermission with the Panthers up 4-0.

The Panthers saved their best for last as they scored a flurry of goals in the third period, led by an Elkins goal off a Gifis assist after only 3:14 of play. Elkins had a big third period, scoring twice and acting as the provider for another goal from Gifis. Erin Neil '03 scored Middlebury's only other goal on an assist from Amber Neil '03. Kati Madouras '04 made 12 saves in goal for the Panthers. With her shutout this weekend, Madouras is currently third in the nation for winning percentage, only slightly ahead of her teammate and team captain Megan Hutchinson '02, who is currently sixth in the nation.

Gifis, with the game-winner on Saturday and three points on Sunday, played especially strongly over the weekend. Her accomplishments did not go unnoticed, as she earned the NESCAC Player of the Week award.

"This was the biggest weekend of the year," said defensemen Jackie Cohen '05. "It was intense. We proved to ourselves and everyone else we could get back on top." If the Panthers plan to stay on top, they have to defend their NESCAC championship title next weekend. "We have to come together as a team and continue to work hard in practice," Cohen said.