Women’s soccer advances to NCAA Sweet Sixteen

On a rather dreary November weekend, the women’s soccer squad rose above the weather and came out with success on many fronts.

Last Thursday, the NESCAC announced its all-conference teams. Each with six players honored, Middlebury and Williams players dominated the elite squads. Anjuli Demers ’10 found herself on the first team for the third time in as many years. Keeper Lauryn Torch ’11 was also named to the first team. Annie Rowell ’11 made it onto the second team along with her tri-captains Jenny Galgano ’10, Margaret Owen ’10 and Lindsay Walker ’10.

“It just shows how much of a team we truly are, and that the talent is spread throughout so many players,” said Demers of the team’s achievements.

The team entered the weekend proud of individual players who received accolades, but also ready to show how united it has become this season.

“We give it our all on the field for each other,” said Paola Cabonargi ’10. The Panthers first challenge came Saturday in the form of the Husson University Eagles of Maine.

The first 30 minutes of play were characterized by both teams vying for possession of the ball, but with few significant chances on net. Middlebury took this opportunity to rest injuries, giving younger players a chance to shine in the playoff spotlight.

With 10 minutes left in the half, the Panthers decided to demonstrate their dominace on the field. Amy Schlueter ’13 kicked off the scoring as she snuck the ball across the goal line during a scramble in front of the Husson keeper. This goal opened up the floodgates, and within three minutes, Rowell had scored

two more goals, one assisted by Devin Perkins ’12 and the other by Kirsten Lundquist ‘11, putting Middlebury solidly in the lead.

The women ploughed on as the field became increasingly muddy and torn up. Despite the score differential, the second half saw no lack of effort from either team. Schlueter tacked on her second goal of the day — and seventh of the season — off a beautiful cross from Owen on the far left side. Hannah Newman ’13 gave the soggy crowd something to cheer about as she made a valiant effort, sliding through the mud to get a touch on Cabonargi’s cross. Five minutes later, Cabonargi tallied one of her own as she capitalized on a fumbled save by the Husson keeper, ending the game’s scoring with a final score of 6-0.

This smooth play in the first round of NCAA playoffs allowed Middlebury to enter the second round against Wheaton feeling confident and composed.

Although the rain held off Sunday afternoon, Dragone field was so thoroughly torn up from the previous day that the game had to be played on the turf field instead. Many teams prefer playing on turf, but for a team like Middlebury that plays primarily on grass, the change can prove to be something of a challenge. The ball bounces quite differently on turf and Middlebury players were often caught off guard and out of position. Still, the Panthers did not let this affect their play too much and kept pressuring the ball as fiercely as ever.

The game opened up with fast paced play but no scoring opportunities as both teams worked off their playoff excitement and jitters. Fifteen minutes into the game, Walker saw her first shot, and the first of the game, deflected over the cross bar, earning the Panthers a corner kick. Off the corner, Owen struck a hard ball into the box, and Walker was there ready to head the ball into the net, putting Middlebury up one-nil.

Wheaton is a team of considerable size, and their preferred tactic was to utilize the powerful legs of their defenders, sending huge balls downfield and hoping their forwards would capitalize. Although this contrasted greatly with Middlebury’s smooth passing play, it did pay off for Wheaton 30 minutes into the game as Rosie Levy snuck one past Torch. In general, however, Middlebury’s defense was always on the ready for these long balls and was extremely effective in shutting them down with timely clears.

Four minutes into the second half, Lundquist found herself in space on the far right wing, and took the opportunity to launch the ball into the box. The Wheaton keeper, Lindsay Leddy, got a glove on the ball and appeared to have stifled the scoring opportunity, but Cabonargi, refusing to give up, headed the loose ball into the back of the net, scoring the game-winning goal.

Wheaton continued to bombard the Middlebury defense with lob balls and strong free kicks, but Galgano and Demers in particular held their ground and refused to give Wheaton any opportunities to tie up the game. Torch made an incredible diving save to stave off Wheaton’s final attempt on net and secured the Panthers’ 2-1 win and the NCAA regional title.

Now Middlebury is off to the NCAA sectionals against Johns Hopkins (time and place still to be determined). Demers represents the sentiment of the entire team when she says, “Coming off of our last home games of the season (or for some of us, the last of our careers) with two hard-fought wins is a fantastic feeling!”