Field Hockey Returns to NESCAC Semis

Middlebury crawled over the Colby Mules on Saturday, Nov. 2 by a score of 3-0 to win the quarterfinal round of NESCAC tournament play.  With their season hanging on the Kohn field scoreboard, Lauren Berestecky ’17, Bridget Instrum ’16 and Katie Theiss ’14 hustled to hammer home the difference-making goals. The Panthers now prepare for next weekend’s trip to Amherst, where they will battle the Lord Jeffs on Saturday, Nov. 9 for an opportunity to play the NESCAC title game the following day.

Before the ball even started rolling, a scratch on the traditional national anthem CD turned a predictable pregame ritual into a razzling performance.  In a tremendous sports moment, Mary Claire Ecclesine ’16 and Cassie Coash ’15 warmed the cool November air with their silky rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.  Theiss proclaimed the surprise anthem the best vocal performance ever heard, while fans and players alike hope the live anthem becomes a Middlebury mainstay.

The harsh percussion of wooden sticks knocking together and the quieter sliding of skin on cold turf signified the new intensity level that comes with the NESCAC playoffs. Citing numerous early lunges from Berestecky in particular, Catherine Fowler ’15 attested to the new ferocity on the pitch.

“You see a lot more players diving for balls than in the regular season,” she said.

The persistence paid off for the Panthers. After 15 minutes, Berestecky intercepted a clear attempt and snapped it back through traffic for the all-important first goal.  When the first half concluded, Middlebury held an 11-0 shots advantage but still led by just one uneasy goal.

Only two minutes into the second half, Instrum received a pass from Jillian Green ’16 and chipped a swift backhand past the Colby goalie’s nearside shoulder.  The exceptionally athletic Instrum alongside the lanky speedsters Hanna Deoul ’14 and Chrissy Ritter ’16 have been weapons off the sideline for the offensive unit, complicating defensive assignments for opponents.  Forwards Theiss and Ritter orchestrated the third goal on a play where Ritter hid behind the defense and came backwards to make a quick layoff to Theiss for the score.

“It’s difficult to play defense when the player you are guarding switches a lot and you need to keep adjusting for different types of players,” midfielder Ellie O’Brien ’14 said.

That is one reason why Middlebury eagerly anticipates a rematch with the rival Amherst team, who Middlebury defeated in overtime 4-3 while being shorthanded all nine freshman during the Middview orientation in the first weekend of the semester. Middlebury expects another rough and physical game on the pellet-ridden Amherst turf, so the team wants a competitive week of practice to prepare.

Middlebury could seal a bid for the NCAA tournament by winning two games this coming weekend, although the strength of its record and schedule could already qualify for an at-large bid.  If the fourth-ranked Panthers move on, Middlebury will be a likely host for a round of the NCAA playoffs, snow or shine.