Men’s hockey splits at Shootout
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Middlebury College men’s hockey team split two games in the Primelink Great Northern Shootout in Plattsburgh this past weekend. The 1-3 Panthers will return to action this weekend with games at Southern Maine and the University of New England.
On Saturday, Middlebury picked up its first win, 2-1 over St. John’s (2-8) in the Shootout consolation game. The Panthers outshot St. Johns, 41-22.
Middlebury took the lead when J.D. Vermette scored the first of his career 8:57 into the game, with Chris Steele earning an assist. The Panthers held that lead into the third period, but the Johnnies tied the game on a power-play goal from Mike Wallgren at 10:44.
Middlebury netted the game-winner with 2:30 remaining, when Charlie Strauss found the back of the net with an assist from Trevor Pollock.
Nick BonDurant earned his first career win with 21 saves, while Adam Andersson made 39 stops for the Johnnies.
On Friday, Middlebury fell, 3-0, to top-ranked Norwich at Shootout. Middlebury went 0-for-10 on the power play in the game. Norwich took a 1-0 lead 8:51 into the first period on a goal from Travis Janke. The lead doubled 7:27 into the second,  when Shane Gorman tallied.
The Panthers pulled goalie John Yanchek (30 saves) late, and Scott Schroeder scored a short-handed empty-net goal to seal the win for the Cadets. Norwich outshot Middlebury by 33-27. Plattsburgh defeated the Cadets, 3-2, in Sunday’s final.
 
Women’s hockey moves to 5-0
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s hockey team won three recent games to improve to 5-0, 4-0 in NESCAC play. The Panthers will host NESCAC foe Williams at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
On Sunday, Panther Anna McNally scored a pair of goals to reach the 100-point plateau (48 goals and 52 assists) as Middlebury picked up a 5-2 NESCAC win over Bowdoin (3-1, 2-1) in Kenyon Arena. The Panthers outshot the Polar Bears by 51-19.
Middlebury opened the scoring with a power play goal at 13:04 mark, when McNally stuffed a rebound past Bowdoin netminder Sage Santangelo (46 saves)/         
The Polar Bears tied the game later in the period, when Shelagh Merrill picked off a pass and snapped a shot past Middlebury netminder Alexi Bloom (16 saves).
Goals by Middlebury Julia Ireland, Sara Ugalde and Madison Styrbicki, the latter two on the power play, made it 4-1 in hte second period. Bowdoin made it 4-2 game late in the period, when Kendra Sweet’s deflected shot found the net with 2:14 left in the period. The lone third period goal came with 13 seconds remaining, when Nora Bergman (two assists) hit McNally breaking up ice for the empty-netter.
On Saturday, Middlebury scored a goal in each period on its way to a 3-0 shutout victory over Colby (1-2, 0-2). The Panthers held a 36-14 shots advantage in the game, and Bloom made 14 saves to earn her second shutout of the season.
Grace Waters opened the scoring for the Panthers in the first period, assisted by Maggie Woodward. McNally scored her in the second period to make it a 2-0 game, and Heidi Woodworth scored her third goal of the season in the third period with a blast from the left point.
On Nov. 23 Middlebury won its home-opener in Kenyon Arena, 3-1 win over Potsdam. Middlebury held a 39-17 shots advantage and freshman Laura Pinsent made 16 saves in goal to earn the win in her collegiate debut.
Middlebury took a 1-0 lead late in the first period, when Ugalde scored a power-play goal set up by Maggie Melberg. The Panthers made it 2-0 in the second period when Bergman scored from the slot, assisted by Eliza Butler.Styrbicki made it 3-0 with a shorthanded third-period goal before Potsdam tallied. 
 
Women’s hoop wins pair at home
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s basketball team breezed to a pair of home wins last week to improve to 4-0.
On Saturday, Middlebury surged in the second half on its way to a 75-40 win over visiting Johnson & Wales. The Panther defense forced 22 turnovers and held the 0-2 Wildcats to 0-for-13 shooting from behind the arc. 
The Panthers led 33-23 at the half, but J&W went on a 7-0 spurt — with all points coming from Marina Millian — to cut the lead to 35-30 at 18:02. The Panthers slowly increased their lead and then outscored J&W by 26-5 in the final 10:00 to emerge with the 35-point win.
Sarah Marcus led Middlebury with 14 points, Lauren Sanchez added 12, while Brittany Perfetti and Stephany Surrette each scored 10. Jesse Miller added eight points and a game-high 12 boards. Millian led all scorers with 18.
On Nov. 23 Middlebury outscored Norwich by 52-25 in the second to win, 92-58, in their home-opener. Middlebury’s 92 points were its highest offensive output since the 1998-99 campaign.
Middlebury, which never trailed, closed out the half on a 12-6 spurt highlighted by six points from Maddie Moreau for a 40-33 lead at the break. The Cadet duo of Karissa Doyon and Christine Daniels netted  26 of the 33 Norwich first-half point..
The Panthers built their lead to 60-45 with 10:03 remaining, and then closed out the game on a 32-13 run. Twelve Panthers got in the scoring column: Moreau led the way with 17 points, Perfetti and Sanchez added 16 apiece, and Surrette added 10 and grabbed eight rebounds. Doyon led all scorers with 20 points, and Daniels added 18, while grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Men’s basketball takes two
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s basketball team won a pair of recent games to remain undefeated; they were ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division III entering this week.
On Sunday, the 4-0 Panthers pulled away from a 38-18 halftime lead to defeat visiting Johnson State, 86-31. Middlebury held the Badgers to .229 from the floor, forced 25 turnovers and maintained a 42-25 edge on the glass.
Fourteen Panthers scored in the game, highlighted by Ryan Sharry’s game-high 13. Peter Lynch and Nolan Thompson added 10 apiece, while Jake Wolfin contributed seven points, seven assists and three steals. Johnson State was led by Brian Phelps’ 11 points.
On Nov. 23 Middlebury broke open a tight game in the second half to win, 83-69, at St. Joseph’s College of Vermont.
Middlebury led 12-5 early, but after St. Joseph’s cut the lead to one, the Panthers settled for 41-36 halftime lead. The Fighting Saints again came within one in the second half, but then Andrew Locke scored six straight — including a dunk and a tip-in — and Sharry followed with four points, two on a thunderous baseline dunk, as the Panthers iced the game with a 24-2 run. 
Locke led all scorers with 17 points, and contributed nine boards and six blocks. Sharry added 12 points and five blocks, while Ryan Wholey also scored 12. Wolfin scored nine with four assists, Jamal Davis netted nine with three blocks, while freshman Joey Kizel scored eight points with four assists.Evan Jobst and Jamie Rajda led St. Joseph’s with 13 apiece, Rahiem Smalis scored 11, and KJay Jackson added 10.