Women’s hockey routs Cardinals, battles rival Bantams to a 1-1 tie

After an incredible start to the regular season that saw the Panthers roar to a 7-0 record, the women’s hockey team has had a slower start to 2011, recording just one win in their last four games –– albeit a 9-0 romp over rivals Wesleyan. The sixth-ranked Panthers, now 7-2-1, lost their first two games of the New Year, dropping a 2-1-overtime game to Elmira and then losing 5-0 to Plattsburgh in the second game of the Panther/Cardinal classic at Plattsburgh. Snapping their two-game losing streak, the Panthers returned to action last Friday with a dominant performance against Wesleyan.

Middlebury got off to a fast start against the Cardinals, scoring four first-period goals and never let up. The win was highlighted by forward Maggie Melberg ’12, who recorded a hat-trick. Despite this standout performance from the junior, the win was truly a group effort, as 10 different Panthers came away with at least a point from the game.

“The Wesleyan game was about redemption,” said senior goaltender Lexi Bloom ’11. “We had come off two bad losses the week before, and everyone needed a serious morale boost. It was great to see players step it up from across the board. We have been struggling with scoring all season, and sometimes you need a game like Wesleyan to remind people how to bury the puck.”

Nobody did that quite like Melberg, who scored her first three goals of the season in the win. “I was able to see the ice well and with the help of my teammates we maneuvered the puck around people,” Melberg said. “Scoring three goals had a lot to do with great passing. Our speed combined with our control of the ice allowed us to move around Wesleyan.”

Coming off the 9-0 decimation of the Cardinals, the Panthers faced a much different challenge with the ninth-ranked Bantams from Trinity. Despite an early first period goal from co-captain Anna McNally ’11, her team-high fourth of the season, the Bantams came back with a goal in the third period that tied it up and sent the game to overtime. Neither team could break through in the extra period and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

“Trinity was a big deal because they have become a serious NESCAC rival in the last few years,” said Bloom. “Although the score did not say it, I think we really came out with a win against Trinity. The third period and overtime were the best minutes of hockey we have played all season, and I truly believe that if we continue to play as that cohesive unit then this team will accomplish some great things this year.”

Given the high expectations this team has set for themselves they will continue to need performances like the ones they got this weekend from Bloom and Melberg. In addition to Melberg’s hat-trick, Bloom delivered a clutch performance of her own, making 16 of 17 saves in the 1-1 draw with Trinity.

“Melberg was excellent on both days,” said head coach Bill Mandigo. “She played with emotion and played on a different level. Lexi continues to play very well and to be the goalkeeper we need her to be. She is the backbone of our defense.”

At 7-2-1 and currently ranked sixth in the country, the Panthers nevertheless have areas to improve  on as their NESCAC schedule begins in earnest this week.

“[This weekend] was a positive step, but we still need to finish games,” Mandigo said. “Scoring goals against good teams has to be a priority.”

Mandigo’s team has an opportunity to do just that this weekend with two games at Amherst, where they will take on the 6-3-2 Lord Jeffs. Amherst has won their last three straight games, including a win over Elmira –– the team that handed the Panthers their first loss of the season. This is another big rivalry weekend for the Panthers, as Middlebury has a long history of big games with the closely-matched Jeffs.