Women's soccer ready for NESCACs

Author: James Kerrigan

The women's soccer team surprised top-ranked Williams but also suffered two tough, division losses on its way to an even two wins and two loses over the last two weeks.

The Panthers did their best to match the season high eight goal outburst against Castleton on Oct. 5 with a 6-0 shutout over Plymouth State on Oct. 11. For the fourth time this season (and third consecutive game) Ashley Pfaff '09 opened the scoring for Middlebury with her team leading 10th goal of the season in the 42nd minute. Plymouth State nearly netted the equalizer just after the ensuing kickoff but the ball bounced off the crossbar. Some good Middlebury fortune turned into some offensive fire as the women scored five more in the second half. Junior Erin O'Rourke setup three consecutive goals: one each for Erin Oliver '07 Caity Abshere '07 , and Caitlin Parker '08. Senior Annie Lloyd netted the sixth and final goal as Adele Plunkett finished with nine saves for her third shutout of the season.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, Middlebury faced off against Williams who came into the match standing atop the NESCAC table and second in New England. The Middlebury defense fended off a formidable Eph attack and kept the game scoreless through the end of the second half. With a rainy day and a wet field, games are usually close game with the decisive goal coming from inside the 18 yard box. All the ingredients were there. After a corner kick dribbled out toward the top of the 18, Caity Abshere sent in a low hard shot into the mixer that was redirected in traffic by Kim Walker '07. The Panthers prevailed - Plunkett '09 shutout (her fourth of the season) a tough Williams team to improve to 3-1-2 in NESCAC play.

A long off week may have slowed down the Panthers and caused the two NESCAC losses over the weekend, but Coach Kim thinks otherwise. "The result boils down to two things: Bates is a team of strong, fast athletes who dominated us physically, and the fact they made their chances count while we did not convert ours."

Middlebury traveled to Maine to compete with Bates on Saturday, but "vacationland" proved to be no suitable place for leisure. The Bobcats dominated the Panthers, unleashing 25 shots. Plunkett made 14 saves, but they were not enough as Bates scored goals midway through each half. The game just was not meant to be as Middlebury missed a chance to get one back on a penalty shot. The women suffered their second conference loss and their third overall.

Amherst, ranked second in the NESCAC League, proved to be another tough test. Middlebury notched the first goal as Erin Pittenger '07 took a pass in space just inside the 18-yard box from Caity Abshere '07 and snuck a shot past Amherst goalkeeper Piper Crowell and into the lower left corner. The turning point of the game occurred early in the second half as a chip off the foot of Pfaff '09 was batted away by the Amherst keeper just in time. That gave the Jeffs the confidence and momentum to score two unanswered goals and take the contest 2-1. Middlebury dropped to 3-3-2 in NESCAC play and currently stands in seventh place.

Nevertheless, Coach Kim is positive. "Losing two big road games like this was difficult for us, but only strengthens the team's resolve to win on the road next weekend. We are an intelligent and committed team who learns from its mistakes, and is determined to become stronger from every setback."

Middlebury travels to Connecticut on Saturday for the final regular season game and hopefully earn and win against a struggling Trinity squad.