Women's soccer falls 2-0 in semis

Last weekend, four teams converged on Amherst, Mass. to battle for the women’s soccer NESCAC crown. With the exception of the underdog Bates Bobcats, who lost 4-1 to the host school in the conference semis, the teams were familiar faces to the tournament. The trio of Middlebury, Williams and Amherst has enjoyed a history of dominance in the NESCAC, as these three powerhouses account for eight of the championships in the last 10 years.

However, the Panthers’ road to the NESCAC semifinal was not an easy one this season. The team built out of an 0-2 hole in conference play to finish fifth in the conference, and then upset fourth-seeded Trinity in the first playoff game to earn a slot in the final four. The rocky road, while uncharacteristic of such a dominant team, nevertheless reveals the unfailing determination and heart that characterized the 2010 squad. After every setback, the Panthers rose up to set their season back on track, and the team came to Saturday’s semifinal on a mission to take revenge against the Williams team that had beaten them 3-0 just over a week ago.

Following the Amherst-Bates blowout, the atmosphere of expectation for the 1:30 matchup between Middlebury and the hated Ephs of Williamstown was electric. Right from the whistle, it was clear that both teams had come to play, as each side delivered some strong challenges to the opposing defense. Despite Middlebury’s dominance of the midfield and sharp passing progressions, Williams struck first, scoring off of a free kick midway through the opening half.

Nevertheless, the team continued to win its battles all over the field, with great ball control from center mids Nora Tomlinson-Weintraub ’11 and Amy Schlueter ’13, and fast-paced flank play from outside mids Kirsten Lundquist ’11 and Julie Favorito ’14. The Panther attack, sparked by Scarlett Kirk ’14, threatened several times, yet was unable to convert, and the team came into halftime down 1-0.

“We dominated in the first half,” said Amy Schlueter ’13, “but Williams scored on an unlucky deflection.” However, as with the numerous other obstacles that the team confronted and overcame this season, the Panthers refused to let the 1-0 deficit get them down. “I really wanted to win this one for our seniors, who are a phenomenal group of players,” continued Schlueter. “They deserved to go to the finals because of all the leadership and commitment they’ve shown to the team.”

Fired up by a great halftime speech and determined to extend their season, the team entered the second half confident in their ability to stay in the game and hunting for that first early goal that would be the game-changer. But as the last 45 minutes of play elapsed, the goal remained elusive for the Panthers, who could not convert excellent defense and midfield play into a concrete result on the scoreboard.

As the Middlebury attack challenged, defensive center mids Katie Ruymann ’11 and Maddy Boston ’13, along with center back Colby Gibbs ’13, held things together in the backfield; their inspirational performance catalyzed numerous dangerous counterattacks for the Panthers. The team challenged for every ball and tirelessly worked the ball forward, yet as they were making their final push for a late goal, the Ephs scored a second goal that put the game out of reach and the future of the Panthers’ season in question. Despite the 2-0 semifinal loss, Middlebury had turned in a strong season and remained in contention for the coveted at-large bids to the NCAA tournament.

“We walked off the field knowing that we had played them well,” said tri-captain Ruymann. “Williams is a really skilled, fast team but so are we. We made them work for that win.”

“We gave it everything we had for 90 minutes, and left it all on the field,” added Tomlinson-Weintraub. “I think that speaks to the character of the team –– we had our fair share of challenges this year, but I was constantly inspired by our ability to persist.”

The final game of the season for the Panthers, who did not get an NCAA bid, said it all. The team battled to the final whistle against a strong opponent in a game that could have gone either way. Their performance was characterized by strong senior leadership on and off the field, coordinated team play and skillful ball control. The team truly played as a cohesive unit, which speaks to their connection that extends from the locker room to the playing field to their social lives at Middlebury –– the team is a family.

“The team accomplished many things on the collective and individual levels this year, and it is now time for us to reflect upon our challenges, celebrate our successes, and regroup for our 2011 season,” concluded Coach Kim.