SPORTSBRIEFS

Author: ZAMIR AHMED AND TOM MCCANN, SPORTS EDITORS

Giddings named XC All-Star
Andrea Giddings '07 was named to the 2005 NESCAC Women's Cross-Country All-Conference Second Team on Nov. 1, after finishing the NESCAC Championship in 12th place. On Oct. 29, Giddings completed the 5k race in 18:29, stopping the clock only 45 seconds behind winner Caroline Cretti of Williams. The Panthers ended up in fifth position at the 11-team race.
It was the second straight year that Giddings was named to the team. Last year she finished 10th at the NESCAC Championships as Middlebury ended up sharing the conference title with the Ephs. Giddings rested this week, along with Middlebury's other top runners, instead of racing at the ECAC Championship on Nov. 5.
The Panthers are preparing for the all-important New England Championships, which doubles as the NCAA Regional meet. The meet will take place this Saturday at Springfield College in Massachusetts. The top five women's teams and top three men's teams will earn a trip to the NCAA National Championship held on Nov. 19 at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Woodring nabs POTW award
Middlebury's Erik Woodring '08 was named NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week for football on Nov. 6 after an impressive performance against Hamilton. The sophomore led the Panthers' defense during the team's 45-8 win over the Continentals on Nov. 5.
Woodring paced the Panthers with eight tackles on the day, including three for a combined loss of 20 yards. He also added a sack for a loss of six yards as the Panthers held Hamilton to only 137 total yards of offense. Woodring also provided a spark to Middlebury's offense. On the first play of the second quarter, Woodring blocked a Continental punt and recovered the ball at the Hamilton one-yard-line. Stefan Hrdina '07 scored Middlebury's first touchdown of the game on the very next play, running the ball in for a 7-0 Panther lead. He has now blocked three kicks on season, after having blocked two in the Panthers' season-opener against Bowdoin on Sept. 24.
Middlebury will end its season this weekend, traveling down to Tufts on Nov. 12 for their season finale. The 2-5 Panthers will take on the 2-5 Jumbos, with the winner clinching a sixth place finish in the NESCAC.

Riders take UNH by storm
The Middlebury equestrian team continues to go from strength to strength as its fall season draws to a close. Competing at the University of New Hampshire last weekend, the ladies placed fourth overall, earning 33 points, just five behind the high-point team.
Jennifer Spain '09 performed particularly well in her first ever IHSA ride, placing third, while Sarah James '08 also finished third in the second show of her career. Meanwhile, Kim Ward '07 placed first on the flat, while Jackie Montagne '09 brought home a first-place finish from her performance over fences. Karen Bullock '07, on the flat, came very close to earning Middlebury a third first-place, eventually settling for second. However, Ptarmigan Abbott '08 stole the show, classing up to intermediate fences in fine style by capturing High Point Rider of the day, claiming firsts over fences and on the flat.
The Middlebury equestrian team heads to the University of Maine next, which will conclude the ladies' fall season. After the winter chill, the spring season will include a couple of shows before regionals at Colby-Sawyer, and possibly zones and nationals depending on how the ladies perform. If this past weekend is anything to go by, the sky is the limit for Middlebury's equestrian stars.