Sports Briefs

Author: Geoff Homer

Woodring bags defensive player of week

Erik Woodring '08 was named NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Middlebury's season opening 10-7 win versus Wesleyan at Alumni Stadium.

Flying all over the field, the 6'3'' 220-pound linebacker had a great day on defense, recording 14 tackles, eight of which were solo. He was also responsible for breaking up two passes. Woodring was a vital part of the Panther defense, which collected two safeties and only gave up a touchdown. The defense gave up only 247 total yards on offense, impressive for the season opener.

The football team will look for Woodring and the defense to carry the Panthers this weekend in what is shaping up to be a bloodbath at Colby.


Plunkett named Player of the Week

Middlebury women's soccer goalie Adele Plunkett '09 earned NESCAC player of the week honors.

Plunkett stopped 13 of 14 shots this past week as she helped the team earn key victories over Keene State (3-1) and Wesleyan (1-0). Plunkett, who has given up only two goals in five games, is quickly making her case for being the best goalie in the league. She trails only Liza Benson of Colby College in the goals against average and save percentage categories. Plunkett has improved all of her statistics since her freshman season and is on her way to eclipsing the single season records for lowest goals against (.52), highest save percentage (.928) and most shutouts (10).

In front of Plunkett, the undefeated Panthers have outscored their opponents 7-2 in four games.

She has a chance to go head-to-head with Benson this Saturday as the Panthers travel to Waterville, Maine in what looks to be a defensive showdown.


Golf fares well in Massachusetts

The women's golf team continued its undefeated streak as it took first place last weekend at the Mt. Holyoke Invitational. The Panthers won the 15 team match, in which four Division I teams competed, with a total score of 655. They finished 18 shots ahead of the next closest team. Karen Levin '08 captured medalist honors after winning a three-way playoff after shooting a two-day total of 157. The rest of the team finished in the top 20.

The men's team competed at the Williams Invitational, finishing seventh of nineteen teams and behind winner Salem State. The tournament applied a new format in which the four out of the five best scores from each individual hole applied, rather than the four best overall scores. George Baumann '08 led the Panthers with a two-day total of 152, including a 73 on the final day. Right behind him was Harrison Bane '08.5 with a 154, followed by Chad Bellmare '07 with a 155.

If the Panthers win the NESCAC Championship this weekend they will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division-III golf championship.


Reilly and Lawson to be inducted into NE Basketball Hall of Fame

On Oct. 6, three members of the college community will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. Former Athletic Directors (A.D.) and Coaches Tom Lawson and Russ Reilly will be inducted, along with John Humphrey '88.

Russ Reilly will be inducted with a distinguished achievement award. Reilly coached the Panthers from 1979 until 1997, when he became A.D. until his retirement this July.

Lawson served as coach from 1971-1977, when he relinquished his duties to Reilly. He served as A.D. from 1977-1997. He will enter the Hall in the category of men's Division III coach.

Humphrey is the all-time leading scorer of the Panther basketball squad. In his career, he scored 1,844 points in four seasons. He holds the record of most points in a game and in season, with a 20.5 point per game average. He will be inducted as a top scholar-athlete.