Women's Hockey Stacked to the Pads with Young Talent

Author: Kate Nerenberg

The Middlebury women's hockey team will be looking to use what has made them successful in the past: its superior speed, crisp passing and an ability to be offensively creative. Although the team lost seven strong players to graduation, including four-time All-American and defensive anchor Catherine Elkins '02, the Panthers will use veteran experience as well as a strong core of first-years to propel another strong season.
Head Coach Bill Mandigo will rely on his own successful past to lead the Panthers in his 15th season on the job at Middlebury. His impressive resume includes a 233-74-6 record as well as six Eastern Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships and two National Titles with the Panthers. He has been the force behind the remarkable 144-3-1 record the Panthers have amassed against Division III opponents since the beginning of the program.
The Panthers only expect to improve on this record this winter as they take on 16 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opponents in addition to seven non-conference opponents.
During the 2001-2002 season, Middlebury was able to capture yet another regular-season NESCAC crown, ending the season with a perfect 16-0-0 in-league record. This year's non-conference schedule includes Manhattanville, the only team to hand the Panthers a regular-season loss last year. However, the Panthers have a while to prepare for this game, which is not until Feb. 1. Manhattanville tainted the Panthers' then-undefeated record, handing them a 4-1 loss.
The team will look to captains Audrey Pellerin '03 and Angela Kapus '03 to lead the defense and offense, respectively. Joining Pellerin on defense is Amber Neil '03, last season's leading goal-scorer. Back from a season-ending injury, Jackie Cohen '05 should play a significant role in the back. Erin Neil '03, will push the speedy and relentless offense with Kapus. An assist specialist, she was right behind her sister as the second leading goal-scorer for the Panthers. The team will also rely on Lorna Gifis '05 on the forward line, who notched several game-winning goals for the Panthers last season.
Between the pipes, the Panthers should have nothing to worry about with Kati Madouras '04, who saved 95.1 percent of opponents' shots last season. Of 122 shots taken on her, only six managed to slip by, leaving her with a .63 goals-allowed average and a place at the top of the national rankings of goalkeepers.
The first-years, comprising one- third of the team, need to play beyond their years in order for the Panthers to have success. The team will look to Hannah Delong, Emily Quizon and Gloria Velez to create options for different combinations up front. Kate Kogut '06, who plays impressively for her age, should see some action in goal, splitting games with Madouras.
If last season is any indication of the possible success the Panthers should have this year, things are looking good for the team. Not only did they suffer only one regular-season loss, they won every other game by an average margin of three goals and only allowed one goal per game. In total, the team scored almost five times as many goals as its opponents. At the end of the 2001-2002 season, Middlebury had a remarkable 19-3-1 record to boast as well as valuable experience from tough games, an indication that the gap between the Panthers and the rest of Division III women's hockey is closing. However small the gap might become, Middlebury remains steadfast in its desire to be regarded among the best, not only in NESCAC play but also in the nation.
"We want to be on the top. That is our goal every season to-be on the top. We play hard in practice every day to get to where we want to be. It should be an interesting season with so many first-years, but we know that we can compete with the top teams if we continue to work hard," offered Cohen.
The Panthers kick off their season this weekend when they travel to New York to take on Hamilton on Friday and then to Massachusetts to battle NESCAC foe Amherst the next day. Last season, Middlebury defeated Amherst 9-0 in its opener and Hamilton 3-0 the same weekend.
In NESCAC play, the Panthers will face a number of formidable opponents that will be out to knock off Middlebury, a perennial powerhouse. Last season, the Panthers beat Bowdoin twice in the regular season, including a key 2-1 victory in overtime late in January. However, each win was only by one goal, much below the average margin of victory for the season. This season, Middlebury will look to avenge the 3-2 overtime loss it suffered to Bowdoin in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The Panthers should also look out for Williams, a team they had beaten early on in the season, only to fall at the hands of the Ephs in the semifinal of the NESCAC tournament, which was held at Middlebury.
The team opens its season at home with a tough weekend of back-to-back games against perennial power Plattsburgh and another top team, Elmira.
Look for the Panthers to defend their NESCAC regular-season championship and climb their way to the top of the national rankings.