Women's Lacrosse Thrashes Number Two Amherst

Author: Zach Foster

As we push further into a snow-covered spring, the women's lacrosse team continues to melt competition while extending its blistering winning streak. In two games that promised to test the back-to-back national champions, the Panthers asserted their dominance with remarkable efficiency and relentless pressure. The two most recent thumpings included Union, and league nemesis Amherst, ranked just behind Middlebury heading into this past weekend's contest. Ultimately, the battles resulted in two convincing Panther victories by a combined score of 35-10 and a continuation of the team's nationally-regarded unbeaten streak, which now stands at 41 games.
In the first contest, Middlebury arrived at Union, only to find a snow-covered turf field, which threatened to downplay Panther supremacy. But the conditions could not slow the swarming Panther attack, which tallied a goal within the first 15 seconds of the game. The first half proved to be interesting, as Union kept the score close, tying it at 3-3. From this point early in the first half the Middlebury defense tightened the clamps on the Union attack, asserting the efficiency of its zone and allowing only two more goals the entire game.
To break the deadlock, Ali Perencevich '06 scored at 19:01 to spur a relentless 7-1 Panther run to close out the first half. Going into the locker room, Middlebury had a sizable 10-4 lead, but was still hungry for more.
The second half was similar to the first, as the Panthers scored at will, and pressured attempts to infiltrate their defensive zone. While Union's Julia Davis scored the half's first goal to cut the lead to five, the goal proved to be the Dutchwomen's last.
Leading the offensive charge for Middlebury was Meg Bonney '03, who netted six goals as well as assisting on another. Kate Simpson '03 continued her impressive play by showcasing a balanced effort of individual play-making and unselfishness. Simpson had a hat trick, but more notably, added to her team-leading assist total of 17 by dishing out four helpers in the win. Nuala O'Donohoe '04 contributed with three goals, while Char Glessner '03.5 added to her team-leading goal total of 22 by netting two. Said Middlebury Head Coach Missy Foote, "Our team did a great job with ball control in such precarious conditions and we were able to set the tone early which was very important."
The second game featured a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) clash between the top-ranked Panthers, and the second-ranked Amherst Lord Jeffs. Playing at home in front of a crowd of over 250, Middlebury was once again able to strike early with a goal from Hanley only 13 seconds in. The early tally began a convincing first half for the Panthers, who never led by less than three and entered the locker room with a 7-3 advantage.
The second half proved to follow a similar story line, as the Panthers notched four goals early to pull away with an 11-3 margin. Leading the offensive charge was Hanley, who displayed incredible precision and finesse in her passes once again, finding player after player for six assists. The most impressive effort came from goalie Sarah Grenert '04, who had five interceptions in the win, as well as saving an impressive 60 percent of the shots fired at her. Said Foote, "Her presence on the field brings our team to the next level."
Offensively, Glessner and Simpson combined for 12 points in the victory, each recording a hat trick and finding numerous teammates for goals. The team's 16 goals came from an impressive eight different players including three from Perencevich, two each from Bonney and O'Donohoe, and one apiece from Hanley, Schuyler Winstead '06 and Elizabeth Renehan '06. "The Amherst game was a true testament to teamwork," said Foote.
If the second-ranked Lord Jeffs are not able to offer the Middlebury women any significant scare, who will? As the top-ranked squad enters the heart of its NESCAC schedule, it is difficult to argue against another convincing path to the National championships. But with three straight games coming up against Tufts, Bowdoin and Vermont, the team will have to keep their focus, while dealing with adverse travel circumstances.