Panthers prevail in two NESCAC nailbiters Captain Smith's slap shot goal lifts Middlebury over Amherst in season finale

Author: Steve beslow

After a tough loss at Babson earlier in the month bumped Middlebury to the third spot in the national standings, the Panthers returned home to finish off the regular season on a high note, cementing their place at the top of the NESCAC standings. Heading into this weekend, the men's hockey team needed only one point to clinch home ice throughout the NESCAC tournament, which begins next week.

The Panthers decided not to wait until the last minute to secure that advantage, taking down the Hamilton Continentals on Friday night. Hamilton, who beat Middlebury during last year's regular season, came out firing on all cylinders, seemingly out-hustling the Panthers for most of the first period. Sophomore goaltender Ross Cherry was the victim of Hamilton's high-powered start, giving up two first period goals, including one shorthanded fast break where he was screened by his own defenseman.

As tough as the rival Continentals were playing, the tide began to swing in Middlebury's favor late in the first frame. With only 29 seconds left in the period, first-year sensation Jamie McKenna scored on the powerplay, stuffing a Jack Kinder '09 rebound home.

McKenna's goal provided plenty of momentum going into the locker room, and the Panthers returned to the ice invigorated and ready to take command.

Middlebury tied the game at 14:52 of the second period, when Yev Saidachev '07 beat Hamilton netminder Gabe Tash with a screamer from just inside the blue line. The tie was short lived - only 42 seconds later, sure-handed Mickey Gilchrist '08 stepped up and wristed home the deciding goal.

This quick turn of events came as no surprise to the Panther crowd, as fan favorites Saidachev and Gilchrist have become known for coming through in the clutch. Gilchrist's play and leadership have been so impressive, in fact, that he was recently named the team's only alternate captain.

Hamilton did not simply lie down, however, and the third period was hotly contested and brutally physical until captain Jeff Smith '06 provided some breathing room at 2:21 with a perfectly placed rebound. Scott Bartlett '08 finished off the scoring by putting home an empty netter with less than a minute left in the game, making a winner of Cherry who overcame those early scores to finish the contest with 17 saves, several of which came at crucial points.

With the NESCAC lead wrapped up, the Panthers were in a mood to celebrate Saturday afternoon, as they finished off the regular season with the annual "Senior Night" against Amherst. Despite Middlebury fielding an abnormally young team this season, there was still plenty of love to go around for the three honored Panthers. Senior Yen-I Chen was given the start in goal, a sign of respect from head coach Bill Beaney for the maturity and commitment to the team that Chen has shown this year while ceding most of the goaltending duties to Cherry and rookie Doug Raeder '09.

Captain Jeff Smith '06 was also honored, and received a loud ovation not only for his game-time abilities, but also for his spectacular leadership this season, both of which would be tested in this game. Also receiving special acknowledgment was General Manager Ryan McQuillan '06, who, besides serving in that post since he was a first-year, was rewarded with playing time earlier in the month, taking a number of shifts against UMass-Boston. Although he did not record any points, McQuillan still managed to make his mark on the books, recording a roughing penalty in the final minutes of the game.

The game itself was just as emotional as the pre-game ceremony. The Panthers struck first when Gilchrist had yet another huge score, taking advantage of a downed defenseman to put the puck in the upper left corner of the net on assists from McKenna and Rob MacIntyre '08 at 18:54 in the first period.

Despite a solid night overall, Chen showed a little rust in the second frame, allowing a deep shot to sneak between his pads and the post, tying the game just 2:54 into the period. Chen would prove that this goal was a little more than an aberration, as he and Amherst goalie Josh Fillman (with the help of some great defense on both sides) dominated the next period and a half.

With Chen already making a tremendous contribution to the cause, it was only a matter of time before Jeff Smith showed why he is the captain of this squad. After two particularly skillful saves by Chen, with the score still tied at 1-1 with just 2:30 left in the game, Middlebury called a time out. In an unusual move, Smith called the entire Panther team off of the bench, circling them around Chen in the hometown goal. Smith was visibly emotional, as if he could make his team score by sheer will. As it turned out, all he had to do was inspire himself.

Exactly one minute later, Smith, the Panthers' best skater, grabbed a loose puck at the point and sped into the slot, firing the game winner past Fillman and causing the loudest eruption Kenyon Arena has heard this year. With the game already in hand, Gilchrist intercepted a play in Middlebury's zone and broke out with line-mate McKenna. Gilchrist unselfishly offered the empty-netter, but McKenna gave the puck right back, giving them both a well deserved point. Chen finished the 3-1 win with 23 saves, wrapping up his senior season with Middlebury just as successfully as he started his blazing rookie campaign.

The weekend sweep moved the Panthers back up to second place in the national polls behind only St. Norbert. This makes Middlebury the definite favorite in the upcoming NESCAC tournament, although the Panthers are not taking their league competitors lightly, surely noting that this is one of the strongest all-around fields in recent years.