The impressive 2009 season came to a close for the Middlebury women’s soccer squad as they fell to Johns Hopkins in a heartbreaking, one-goal game. Nevertheless, the team has much to be proud of in this season and much to look forward to in the seasons to come.
Coming off of two exciting NCAA playoff wins at home — the last home games of the seniors’ careers — the Middlebury squad was excited to prove itself on the road. The trip to Johns Hopkins marked Middlebury’s third appearance in the NCAA sectionals in the past six years.
The Blue Jays, however, were just as enthused and excited to be playing in the NCAA playoff spotlight. They came out strong and scored after only one minute of play. Hopkins’ Erica Suter gathered the ball inside the 18-yard box and just managed to slip it past the outstretched arms of keeper Lauryn Torch ’11. This goal was her sixth game-winning goal on the season.
Middlebury knew that the game was far from over and refused to lose any steam after the quick first goal. Fifteen minutes into the half, Paola Cabonargi ’10 got a good chance on goal, but was denied by the Hopkins keeper.
The Blue Jays also kept up a barrage of attempts on goal, but Torch was up to the task, effectively keeping the Panthers in the game. Torch successfully denied Suter’s second attempt on net. Perhaps her most impressive save came with 10 minutes remaining in the first half as she made a remarkable diving save against a Hopkins first-year. Two more diving saves in the second half would bring Torch’s tally up to eight influential saves on the day.
The waning time on the clock did not deter Middlebury, but rather gave them more fire and intensity. The team’s best scoring opportunity came with just two minutes left in the contest as defender and tri-captain Anjuli Demers ’10 dribbled the ball up the right sideline and struck a hard ball into the goal box. Hopkins’ goalie was able to stop the ball above her head and refused Middlebury any chance at a rebound.
Hopkins’ early goal proved insurmountable in the end, but the Middlebury women’s soccer squad played with a lot of heart and shoud be proud of its effort.
“We were obviously disappointed with the result at Johns Hopkins, but that loss doesn’t take away from all the fantastic successes they have achieved this year,” said Coach Peter Kim.
Middlebury ended the season with the very impressive record of 14-4-2, and tri-captain Demers says that this season has “set a standard for Middlebury women’s soccer in the future.”
“This team was the most talented I’ve played with in my four years at Middlebury,” said tri-captain Lindsay Walker ’10, and Middlbury supporters were not the only ones to recognize this ability.
Throughout the season, two players (Annie Rowell ’11 and Amy Schlueter ’13) were recognized as NESCAC players of the week; four players (Rowell, Walker, Margaret Owen ’10, and Jenny Galgano ’10) were named to the NESCAC All-Conference second team; two players (Demers and Torch) were honored on the first team; and Coach Peter Kim was named the NESCAC coach of the year.
“We were strong all over the field,” said Coach Kim, and these accolades strongly support this statement.
“The team was blessed with phenomenal senior leadership,” added Kim. However, Middlebury ‘s squad also featured incredible depth. While the women will definitely miss their eight seniors, they have a lot to look forward to in the players coming up through the ranks. Kim is also quick to acknowledge the “outstanding performances from our younger players.” 13 girls notched goals this season for the Panthers, an impressive spread few other teams enjoy, and three of those 13 were first-years.
But even after all the accomplishments and honors are taken into account, Coach Kim recognizes that it all comes down to the fact that “the team remained the same strong family that is the hallmark of this program.”
As any fan can attest, the women’s soccer squad has been a joy to watch and support and turned in a phenomenal performance this season.
The impressive 2009 season came to a close for the Middlebury women’s soccer squad as they fell to Johns Hopkins in a heartbreaking, one-goal game. Nevertheless, the team has much to be proud of in this season and much to look forward to in the seasons to come.
Coming off of two exciting NCAA playoff wins at home — the last home games of the seniors’ careers — the Middlebury squad was excited to prove itself on the road. The trip to Johns Hopkins marked Middlebury’s third appearance in the NCAA sectionals in the past six years.
The Blue Jays, however, were just as enthused and excited to be playing in the NCAA playoff spotlight. They came out strong and scored after only one minute of play. Hopkins’ Erica Suter gathered the ball inside the 18-yard box and just managed to slip it past the outstretched arms of keeper Lauryn Torch ’11. This goal was her sixth game-winning goal on the season.
Middlebury knew that the game was far from over and refused to lose any steam after the quick first goal. Fifteen minutes into the half, Paola Cabonargi ’10 got a good chance on goal, but was denied by the Hopkins keeper.
The Blue Jays also kept up a barrage of attempts on goal, but Torch was up to the task, effectively keeping the Panthers in the game. Torch successfully denied Suter’s second attempt on net. Perhaps her most impressive save came with 10 minutes remaining in the first half as she made a remarkable diving save against a Hopkins first-year. Two more diving saves in the second half would bring Torch’s tally up to eight influential saves on the day.
The waning time on the clock did not deter Middlebury, but rather gave them more fire and intensity. The team’s best scoring opportunity came with just two minutes left in the contest as defender and tri-captain Anjuli Demers ’10 dribbled the ball up the right sideline and struck a hard ball into the goal box. Hopkins’ goalie was able to stop the ball above her head and refused Middlebury any chance at a rebound.
Hopkins’ early goal proved insurmountable in the end, but the Middlebury women’s soccer squad played with a lot of heart and shoud be proud of its effort.
“We were obviously disappointed with the result at Johns Hopkins, but that loss doesn’t take away from all the fantastic successes they have achieved this year,” said Coach Peter Kim.
Middlebury ended the season with the very impressive record of 14-4-2, and tri-captain Demers says that this season has “set a standard for Middlebury women’s soccer in the future.”
“This team was the most talented I’ve played with in my four years at Middlebury,” said tri-captain Lindsay Walker ’10, and Middlbury supporters were not the only ones to recognize this ability.
Throughout the season, two players (Annie Rowell ’11 and Amy Schlueter ’13) were recognized as NESCAC players of the week; four players (Rowell, Walker, Margaret Owen ’10, and Jenny Galgano ’10) were named to the NESCAC All-Conference second team; two players (Demers and Torch) were honored on the first team; and Coach Peter Kim was named the NESCAC coach of the year.
“We were strong all over the field,” said Coach Kim, and these accolades strongly support this statement.
“The team was blessed with phenomenal senior leadership,” added Kim. However, Middlebury ‘s squad also featured incredible depth. While the women will definitely miss their eight seniors, they have a lot to look forward to in the players coming up through the ranks. Kim is also quick to acknowledge the “outstanding performances from our younger players.” 13 girls notched goals this season for the Panthers, an impressive spread few other teams enjoy, and three of those 13 were first-years.
But even after all the accomplishments and honors are taken into account, Coach Kim recognizes that it all comes down to the fact that “the team remained the same strong family that is the hallmark of this program.”
As any fan can attest, the women’s soccer squad has been a joy to watch and support and turned in a phenomenal performance this season.
Comments
