sportsbriefs

Author: Jeb Burchenal

Field hockey advances to finals, falls to Polar Bears

After a stellar regular season, the Middlebury women's field hockey team found themselves in the NESCAC tournament this weekend, advancing to the finals to take on Bowdoin.

The semi-finals included battles between Williams and Bowdoin as well as Middlebury and Tufts. The Polar Bears were on the offensive from the get-go in the first of the two semifinals, registering 11 first-half shots to the Ephs' two. Nonetheless neither team were able to score in the first 35 minutes

Bowdoin, though, scored twice early in the second half. Williams made it interesting with a goal in the final minute of the game, but the final shot tally was 23-3 in favor of the Polar Bears. Their keeper was not forced to make a single save in the win.

The Middlebury-Tufts affair was much more closely contested. The Jumbos led 2-1 going into the half but saw that lead evaporate in the second half as Middlebury pushed the lead to 3-2 on a goal by offensive star and co-captain Reid Berrien '08.

Tufts knotted the match at three with just four minutes remaining to force overtime. Middlebury wasted no time in the overtime period as Berrien notched the decisive fourth goal, her third of the game, a mere 42 seconds into the extra frame.

With Bowdoin and Middlebury advancing to the finals, the stage was set for a rematch of last year's NESCAC championship game. In this year's version, Bowdoin never trailed after getting on the board in the eighth minute, winning 3-1.

Middlebury could not stay with the streaking Polar Bears, who have won five straight games over the Panthers, including the last two NESCAC championships.

Williams puts a close to volleyball's season

The NESCAC volleyball spotlight was on Amherst, Mass. this weekend as the Lord Jeffs hosted the championship tournament.

Middlebury, which had stumbled late in the season, looked to rebound and make a run at the NESCAC crown, but the Panthers were pitted against the second-seeded Williams Ephs in the quarterfinals.

The Panthers saw their season draw to a close with a 3-0 loss. The Ephs won by scores of 30-24, 30-20 and 30-21.

Middlebury's offense was led by Lindsay Patterson '08.5 who had 10 kills, while the defense was anchored by the trio of Natalie DuPre '10, Lexie Fisher '08 and Reisa Bloch '09, who had 21, 13 and 11 digs, respectively.

First-year Lauren Barrett turned in a well-rounded effort as she put up 10 digs to go along with her team-leading 28 assists. The Panthers finished the 2007 season with a 15-14 record.

Brian Bush '09 earns Player of the Week honors

Bush's strong showing during the final weekend of the NESCAC championships was rewarded on Nov. 5, when he was named NESCAC Player of the Week. It was the fourth time this year a Middlebury player has received this honor.

Bush was stellar all weekend, allowing only one goal in 200 minutes of play, and twice thwarting Williams attempts during the semifinal shootout. His shutout of Amherst in the finals was his eighth on the year, and his 0.46 goals-against-average is far and away the best in the conference.