MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s lacrosse team won two out of three recent games, including its fifth straight NESCAC contest, to improve to 7-6 overall, 5-3 in league play.
The Panthers’ 15-4 victory at Trinity (3-9, 1-7 NESCAC) on Saturday moved them into a fourth-place tie in league play with two NESCAC games left in the regular season. The Panthers travel to Colby on Saturday.
Vs. Trinity, Middlebury took charge by scoring the first six goals of the contest, and closed out the game on a 5-0 run. Stephen Seymour led the attack for Middlebury with five goals, while Jon Broome had a game-high seven points thanks to a three-goal, four-assist effort. Tim Giarrusso and Jack Rautiola added three and two markers, respectively.
Bantam goalie Mickey Zaverucha made 22 saves, while Panther Nate Gaudio turned aside 10 shots. Panther Harrison Goodkind caused two turnovers and grabbed a pair of groundballs.
On April 9, host Springfield used a six-goal surge to wipe out a 10-7 Panther lead in a 14-12 win. The Pride improved to 8-2. Broome led Middlebury with three goals and an assist, while Rautiola produced two goals and a pair of helpers. Cal Williams led the Panthers with five groundballs.
Pride goalie Connor Nash made 12 saves, while Gaudio finished the contest with 16. Springfield held a 42-32 edge in shots, while both teams grabbed 31 groundballs.
On Tuesday vs. visiting Skidmore (4-9), Middlebury scored a season-high goal total in an 18-10 non-league contest on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers (7-6) have won all seven meetings against the Thoroughbreds.
The Panthers scored the game’s first three goals and led at the half, 7-2. Skidmore closed to within 9-6 early in the third and was still within striking distance at 11-7 after three. But the Panthers opened the fourth on a 6-0 run to ice the win, including two from Broome.
Broome finished with four goals and an assist, Rautiola earned a goal and four helpers, and David Murray contributed three goals and two set-ups. Goodkind finished with a goal, a game-best six groundballs and won nine of 17 face-offs. Gaudio allowed seven of Skidmore’s 10 goals while stopping five shots in 53:49, and Gabe Weissmann played the final 6:11, making one save. Two Skidmore goalies combined for 13 saves.