Lax ekes out the 'W' against rival Amherst

Author: Tom McCann

The last time Middlebury hosted Amherst at Kohn Field, a place in the NESCAC Championship Game was at stake. On that occasion, the Panthers ran out 7-2 winners as a result of a fourth quarter in which Middlebury held a 4-0 advantage. This time around it was much closer, as Amherst looked to avenge the defeat that ended their NESCAC aspirations last year.

The Lord Jeffs came flying out of the blocks, scoring the first two goals of the game and later extending their lead to 4-2 before the end of the first quarter. Middlebury needed to respond, and so looked to Jim Cabrera '08, a player who has been scoring goals for fun since his arrival as a first-year this season.

On his early season form, Cabrera said, "I'm pretty psyched. Having Nick Bastis '07 and Mark Foster '05 in attack takes the pressure off as they like to get to the poles as I do. Without the others guys out there none of what I've done would be possible." He also observed because he is a first-year teams are not looking out for him on the field, and there is no doubt he has capitalized on this through the early going.

Cabrera led the Middlebury revival against the Lord Jeffs, scoring twice in a six-goal run that gave Middlebury an 8-4 lead with just over a minute remaining in the half.

However, just as the Panthers had responded to Amherst, so the visitors struck back at their hosts, scoring two quick goals to end the half. The second goal came with just three seconds on the clock, sending the teams to the intermission with an 8-6 score-line, and Middlebury ruing the loss of momentum to close the half.

Cabrera noted that while it was a tense game throughout, Head Coach Erin Quinn had words for his team. He said, "During the game [Coach Quinn] stressed the point that it was the best type of game to be involved in as both teams were playing well. We just needed to keep firing shots and the goals would come."

Having out-shot the Lord Jeffs 32-12 in the half, the Panthers held a slender lead to open to second half and were never able to shake off the Lord Jeffs. Indeed with just over two minutes on the clock, Amherst player Andrew Syfu found a way past Alex Palmisano '07 in the Middlebury goal, tying the game at 12 apiece.

With time slipping away and nails well and truly bitten, Middlebury's Travis Meyer '06 fired a shot under the crossbar to give the Panthers a vital lead with just 1:18 on the clock.

The drama was still not over though as Middlebury was penalized with 37 seconds to play, giving Amherst a man-up advantage to end the game. With the Panthers frantically trying to keep the Lord Jeffs at bay, Bryan Hiller of Amherst almost leveled the game in the final seconds, only to see his last-gasp shot turned aside by Palmisano. The save would seal the win for the Panthers, inflicting another painful defeat on their gallant visitors.

Cabrera commented, "It was real close the whole game and they kept coming back. We had goals and assists when we needed them and pulled out a tough one." Looking ahead, the Panthers will continue to compete in NESCAC action, taking to the road against Tufts before hosting Bowdoin on Saturday afternoon.

"We've got a really tough week coming up, said Cabrera. "They are two solid teams, but I feel that if we keep playing the same way and finishing our opportunities we'll be pretty successful." These are confident words, but coming from a man who has scored 23 goals in 7 games, helping his team to a 6-1 record on the season, it may not be confidence misplaced.