Women work overtime on Saturday Neck-and-neck game knotted up late, ends in tie

Author: Emma Gardner

One might say that repetition has been the theme of the 2007-2008 women's hockey season.

Falling for the second time in the last four months to Plattsburgh State on Feb. 12, the women lost their title as the top-ranked Division III team after being shutout for the first time in 134 games.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, hoping to regain momentum after seeing their 17-game unbeaten streak end, the women were determined to defeat Amherst. Sixty-five minutes later, however, the game resulted in a 1-1 tie - just as Middlebury's first contest with Amherst ended earlier in the season, on Nov. 30, with a final score of 2-2.

In the game's first period, goalie Lani Wright '10 blocked all seven of Amherst's shots on the Middlebury goal. Amherst's defense played equally well, barring the offensive Panthers from contact with the net.

The tension continued to rise through the second period as players from both teams skated nimbly around each other, while the puck still refused to enter either goal.

The game was reminiscent of the most recent Amherst-Middlebury confrontation, which was played on the Panthers' home ice - last year's NESCAC championship game. It went all the way to triple-overtime before the Lady Jeffs ultimately emerged victorious.

"It was exciting to get to play them in our rink considering the outcome of last year's game," said Ashley Bairos '10. "Amherst is a great team with a great coach, and both sides were battling hard."

Neither team managed to make it onto the Kenyon '85 Arena scoreboard until halfway through the third period, when Erika Nakamura '09 earned a point for Middlebury at the 11:50 mark with an assist by assistant captain Karen Levin '08.

"The team is really coming together and everyday I am inspired by everyone's work ethic and performance," said Nakamura. "We aren't just relying on one or two people anymore, which is great, and everyone is stepping up and filling their roles."

Unfortunately, the goal seemed to be just what the Lady Jeffs needed to push their own offense to score. Two minutes and 28 seconds after Nakamura's successful shot, Julie Radziewicz netted a goal for Amherst in a showdown with her former St. Mark's School teammate and childhood friend Wright.

Despite affording Radziewicz's game-tying goal, Wright "really pulled through for us with a lot of big saves," said assistant captain Annmarie Cellino '09.

The teams were matched practically shot-for-shot until the last minute in over time, the players carving up both sides of the rink. The upper hand shifted constantly "back and forth pretty competitively" said Bairos, "and both teams had their moments throughout the game."

While Saturday's game may not count as a win in the record books, the Panthers are quick to recognize the skill level of the Amherst team, and are confident that they will receive another opportunity to beat the Jeffs before the season's end.

"We're definitely going to see them in the NESCAC championship," said Bairos. "While we tied on Saturday, our feeling is that we'll get them when it counts."

Added Levin, "There are no ties in playoffs."

Though only two games remain in the Panthers' regular season, the outcome of this weekend's games against conference opponents Hamilton and Wesleyan will play a key role in determining whether the Panthers will host the NESCAC championship again.

"Although we beat Hamilton and Wesleyan handily at the beginning of the year, they are sure to be different teams the second time around," said Cellino. "This weekend is going to be huge for us."

At this point in the season, the women are preparing for the intense few weeks leading up to both the NESCAC and NCAA championships.

Having let both titles slip through their gloved fingers in the 2006-2007 season, the Panthers are hungry for victory against the perennial competitors they are certain to face before the season is over.