Cronin '05 and Cronies Top Williams

Author: Kate Nerenberg

Grabbing a pair of crucial wins, the women's soccer team is now entering the final third of its regular season with a promising 6-3-1 record. After a convincing 4-1 pounding of Lyndon State, Middlebury beat New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) archrival Williams, 2-1, in Massachusetts.
The Lyndon State game gave the Panthers a chance to try some lineup changes on for size before their tough match-up with Williams. After laying low for the first half, Brittany Cronin '05 put Middlebury on the scoreboard early in the second half.
Lyndon State quickly responded just a few minutes later. However, the Panthers "showcased the depth of their team," according to Head Coach Diane Boettcher, as they had a response of their own. Meg Bonney '03 scored her first goal of the afternoon midway through the half before Anna Gayman '03 brought the score to 3-1. Late in the game, Bonney notched another goal and sealed the Panther victory.
With a great confidence in their lineup alterations, the Panthers traveled to Williamstown to take on the top-ranked Ephs. Avenging a loss to Amherst, another NESCAC foe, earlier in the season, Middlebury did not leave any doubt that it can compete with and beat the top teams.
"Early going in the game was all Panthers. Bonney and Leah Cumsky-Whitlock '03 roared onto the scoreboard with a telling first goal," Boettcher commented in response to the Panthers' immediate dismantling of the Ephs.
Just 3:02 into the game, Bonney took a pass from Cumsky-Whitlock, beat a defender and put the Panthers up 1-0 with her first goal. The two seniors again connected as Bonney collected her second goal off a Cumsky-Whitlock pass with a line drive from the top right corner of the penalty box.
The game shifted in favor of the Ephs late in the second half as they surged against a strong Panther defense. With 15 minutes remaining in the game, goalkeeper Els Van Woert '05 deflected a Williams cross which was immediately headed in by an oncoming forward. However, the Middlebury defense kept their cool and held strong until the end of the game. With the win, the Panthers ended Williams' five-game winning streak.
Boettcher explained that her seniors had a personal goal of defeating both Amherst and Williams this season. After the Amherst loss, there was no way the five oldest players were going to allow Williams to slip by them as well.
For her four-goal effort this past week, Bonney was named NESCAC Player of the Week. She now leads all NESCAC scorers with 12 goals on the season. In addition to her phenomenal goal-scoring abilities, Boettcher believes Bonney does much more.
"It would be easy to say Bonney beat Williams with two goals, but to do so would not give enough credit to her for the 90 minutes of defending strength and clever serving that spurred every Panther to play at her level."
With their confidence restored, Bonney and the rest of the Panthers travel to New York on Tuesday to take on Hamilton. They resume their NESCAC battles this weekend against Bates College Bobcates at home on Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.