Ftorek unties game, ties up NESCAC title

Author: James Kerrigan

For the final 165 minutes and 56 seconds of the NESCAC tournament, keeper Brian Bush '09 was perfect. After Middlebury surrendered an own goal in the opening minutes of the second half against Williams in the semifinal match, Bush was up to each and every task, totaling eight saves during the impressive shutout stretch which helped Middlebury capture its first NESCAC championship since 2000 with a 1-0 victory over the host Amherst on Sunday, Nov. 4.

His two biggest saves came in the shootout that followed a double-overtime, 1-1 draw against Williams on Nov. 3.

Unlike the back-and-forth first half of the regular season game when Middlebury beat Williams 1-0, the opening half of the semifinal contest was lopsided - Middlebury held a 7-0 advantage in shots, but none found the back of the net.

Just as the two teams did in 2006, Middlebury and Williams took the field in the second half tied at 0-0. Not surprisingly, the intensity level was at its highest.

An own goal in the 56th minute shook Middlebury up, but only briefly.

"There was a minute of bickering," said co-captian Andrew Germansky '08, "but we figured a few things out and made some adjustments on defense."

After passing on some defensive responsibility from the overwhelmed midfield to the back four, Middlebury settled in and returned to playing an organized brand of soccer.

Like he has done throughout the season, Stephen Hart '10 came off the bench and provided a huge spark. With tremendous speed, Hart applied consistent pressure and unsettled the Williams defense.

Classmate Andrew Banadda '10 slid a through-ball to Hart, who netted his fifth goal of the season, and perhaps the most important of his young career.

"Stephen came in," said Germansky, "and literally his first touch was a goal. He was a huge energy boost for us."

Both the Ephs and the Panthers fought hard throughout the rest of regulation. Tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, they took a brief break before starting the "golden-goal" overtime period. Still, after two 20-minute overtimes, Middlebury and Williams remained tied and would decide a winner in a best of five penalty shootout.

Penalty kicks, although not the most favorable way to decide a victor, are a series of one-on-one battles - battles which Middlebury has stressed all year, and, by and large, won throughout NESCAC play this season.

Fans from both teams bit their collective nails while the shooters positioned the ball on the penalty spot, just 12 yards from the goal. Despite the nervous energy outside the touchlines, the Panther players displayed a quiet confidence as they watched from midfield. Not only has Middlebury capitalized on several penalty kicks during the regular season, but the man wearing green (and number 0) between the pipes gave the squad an extra advantage.

"Bush is the best shot-stopper I've ever played with," said Nolan Lincoln '09. "We were really confident to have him in net."

"We knew we had the better keeper," said co-captain Alex Elias '08, "and our nerves were in check."

Bush, combining enthusiasm with talent, and the entire Panther team put last year's fate behind them and focused on the task at hand.

Just a year ago, Middlebury was denied on its final three penalty kick attempts, and Williams walked off the field with its fifth NESCAC Championship in six years. In those three takes, the 2006 Panthers hit one post and were denied by two diving saves. Roles reversed in 2007 - Williams blasted one off the crossbar, and Bush sprawled out for two spectacular saves to propel the Panthers into Sunday's championship game. The fourth and fifth attempts were unnecessary - Middlebury clinched the win and rushed towards Bush.

Celebrations were short-lived, however, as the men returned to action to take on the home team, Amherst, with the league crown on the line.

Role reversals dominated the landscape of the NESCAC tournament for the 2007 Panthers. After losing to Amherst on its home-turf on the first weekend of October, Middlebury came into town during the first weekend of November with renewed energy and intensity - the results were evident.

Riding a seven-game win streak, the Panthers ventured down to Amherst on Oct. 6 for their first real test of the season.

"We were complacent against Amherst the first time around," said Germansky, who has anchored the virtually impenetrable back four all season long. "We were overconfident, and it showed."

That complacency led to two quick goals for the Lord Jeffs on the way to a 3-1 loss for the Panthers.

"We were starting games really slowly at the beginning of the year," said Elias, so it was especially important that Middlebury match Amherst's energy in the rematch.

Moving from the grass field to the turf and from October to November, Middlebury entered the championship game with a new strategy.

"Knowing [Amherst] was good at set plays and better in the air than us, it was important to limit their opportunities," said Elias.

In order to compensate, Middlebury discussed a strategy in which one player would challenge every ball in the air while the other players dropped back to fill gaps. Locker room tactics alone, however, do not win championships - victory would depend on successful execution of the plan.

Middlebury and Amherst exchanged scoring chances throughout much of the first half. Both keepers were tested, and so were the laws of physics.

Late in the first half, Corey Moffat '09 fired a rebound from the edge of the 18-yard line that skipped along the field turf, through several defenders and by the Amherst keeper. Rattling off the left post, the ball traversed the entire length of the goal line before hitting the opposite post and bouncing out toward a hectic goalie. Although Amherst averted the threat, Middlebury continued to apply significant pressure but could not bury any shots.

The box score identified the weather as sunny, crisp and beautiful. As halftime ended, however, the clouds rolled in along with a steadily increasing wind. Middlebury's ball movement and organization remained just as crisp, and its stars shined just as bright in the second half as they had all season long.

Casey Ftorek '09, who has scored big goal after big goal all fall (12 in all), and the speedy Dave LaRocca '08 put pressure on the Amherst backs all day long. Using the width of the field, midfield flanks Baer Fisher '09 and Brandon Jackson '08 controlled the tempo and initiated numerous scoring chances. Outside backs Colin Nangle '10 and Jake Edwards '11 went forward with speed and sent dangerous balls to their strikers. Centerbacks Germansky and Moffat won ball after ball and kept Amherst's attack one-dimensional. Elias, Banadda and Allen Bourdon '08.5 dictated play in the central midfield and possessed the ball with great success. Bourdon, who played limited minutes due to a tender left knee, made the most of his time.

He lofted a ball toward Ftorek, who was hustling down the right side. After collecting the pass, Ftorek touched it to himself, broke free of the defender and ripped a shot that got by the Amherst keeper. A Lord Jeff defender desperately tried to clear the ball at the goal line, but was unsuccessful as it crossed the plane and Middlebury took the 1-0 lead.

The Panthers quickly returned to their positions and resumed their solid play. The team defended as a unit, just as it had done throughout the entire game.

"We forced a lot of turnovers," said LaRocca, "which took some pressure off of our backs."

Even when Amherst did attack with speed, Middlebury fended them off.

"If we play smart, and don't make mistakes," said Germansky, "then teams aren't going to score on us." Middlebury did just that, and in its 14 wins this season (which tied the team record), surrendere
d only two goals.

With Amherst pressing and only five seconds left in regulation, the Lord Jeffs committed a foul, which resulted in long stoppage due to injury. Although the ending was anticlimactic, Middlebury captured its first NESCAC title since 2000 and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

No one took their jersey off, nor did anyone jump into the stands - an exhausted team congratulated each other, exchanged hugs and promptly lined up to shake their opponents' hands.

"There is something about this program and Coach Saward," said Germansky, "that makes us act like professionals."

Middlebury's success on the field, and the way the players handled themselves is a byproduct of a refreshed outlook and a lot of hard work.

"There was some bad energy last year," said Germansky, "so this year the seniors got together and developed a new approach. The true essence of Middlebury soccer is to be a part of something great, both on the field and off."

The team displayed a lot of chemistry, stemming largely from the squad's closeness.

"We've come together off the field," said Bush, "which has translated into great play. It's easy to work hard when you're playing with guys you want to win for."

Middlebury will be working hard on Nov. 10 at 1 p.m., when they host the winner of Wheaton and Bridgewater State in the NCAA tournament after earning a bye in the first round. It is Middlebury's second appearance in the NCAA Regional in as many years.