Panthers claw through Bobcats in 13-4 win

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Did Bates beef up their offense this year? Or were they just lucky? At any rate, they managed to score two more points against Middlebury's women's lacrosse team than they did last year and close the final score margin from 13-2 Middlebury to 13-4 Middlebury.

The Panthers handled the Bobcats with great ease on a soppy Kohn Field last Saturday, April 1. Bates goalkeeper Liz McNamara must have known she had her work cut out for her when the Panthers scored seven straight goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Kim Walker '07, one of several goal leaders for the game, scored three times on McNamara in the first half and Claire Edelen '07 scored twice. Their collective goals combined with those of Allison Perencevich '06, Liza Humes '07 and Liz Renehan '06, who scored once each and left Middlebury in a comfortable 8-2 lead at halftime.

Johanna Rosenfield '05, captain and Middlebury goalkeeper, succinctly and completely summarized the second half of the game, saying, "Continuing with that initial momentum, we secured the win." And it was as easy as that. Schuyler Winstead '06 and Lindsey Corbin '05 led the offense during the second half, allowing Bates' defense very little room to fight them off. Winstead scored three goals and Corbin two to seal the nine point margin of victory. With a strong defensive team in front of her, Rosenfield needed only make three saves to prevent Bates from coming any closer to victory.

The Panthers' skill was apparent despite the extreme rain, which "affects the pocket of the women's lacrosse sticks immensely," said Assistant Coach Missy Hopkins, and severely alters a player's ability to catch and pass. "As a result, the game is not as crisp and clean as usual-it takes more effort and mental toughness to play a game under these conditions," explained Hopkins.

And yet the Panthers proved their adaptability. Defensive anticipation was very strong throughout the game, with 20 groundball possessions between Renehan, Emily Erickson '06, Captain Caitlin McCormick '05 and Reid Berrien '08. They ran circles around the Bobcats all over the field, controlling 16 draws on the face-off to three for Bates. "That's another 16 possessions through pure effort and hustle," commented Hopkins.

Already, with a 3-0 NESCAC record and a 5-1 overall record, Middlebury promises fans an exciting and successful season comparable to last year's. "Other than the two players out with injuries and sickness," said Rosenfield, "the whole bench made it into the game, and played beautifully."

The Panthers say goodbye to Kohn Field for a few weeks as they travel to Connecticut this Saturday, April 9 to face 4-2 Wesleyan, whom they easily beat 11-5 during last year's regular season.

Next week they will meet NESCAC foes as the Jumbos of Tufts and the Polar Bears of Bowdoin loom large on the schedule. The week following the team will travel to Skidmore before returning to Middlebury on April 23 for a home showdown against Amherst College.

The Lord Jeffs have historically proved to provide some of the Panthers' toughest competition and will undoubtedly provide a staunch test when the two teams go head to head. The depth of the team's skill will no doubt continue to strengthen the Panthers' game in their next four consecutive games on the road.

Rosenfield affirmed, "We really have no weakness throughout all 21 players, which is very assuring."