WATERVILLE, Maine — The Middlebury College men’s lacrosse team won its sixth consecutive NESCAC game, 12-6, on Saturday at Colby (6-7, 3-6 NESCAC). The Panthers (8-6, 6-3 NESCAC) have now won six of their last seven games.
Jon Broome paced the Panthers by scoring twice and tying the school record with six assists in the game, equaling the mark earned by Pete Smith on March 24, 2009. Middlebury was set to return to action on Wednesday by hosting Williams (8-6, 5-4 NESCAC) in the league’s regular season finale.
The Panthers entered that game in a three-way tie with Bowdoin and Amherst for third place in the league. The NESCAC quarterfinal round opens on Saturday at a time and location to be determined. If the Panthers defeated the Ephs, they will have earned a home playoff game because they own the head-to-head tiebreaker with both Bowdoin and Amherst.
On this past Saturday Jack Rautiola added a game-high three goals for Middlebury, while Stephen Seymour finished with two goals. David Murray added one goal and one assist for Middlebury.
The Panthers led 3-0 after the first quarter. Chase Clymer scored a man-up goal at 5:59, and the Panthers added two goals in the final 1:10. Murray tallied at 1:10 from Broome, and Broome made it 3-0 40 seconds later off a pass from Kyle Soroka.
The Panthers added to the lead in the second quarter. Rautiola scored his first of the game, from Brian Ayers, 53 seconds into play. Jack Cleary made it 5-0 with 9:27 to play from Broome.
Colby then scored two goals in a row before Seymour tallied with 2:59 left off another assist from Broome to make it 6-2. Colby scored again, but Rautiola made it 7-3, Middlebury, with 1.6 seconds to go in the half by converting Broome’s fifth assist.
Colby cut the score to 7-4 early in the third, but goals by Tim Giarrusso and Chris Peterson pushed the lead to 9-4, and Colby came no closer than four goals the rest of the way.
Panther goalie Nate Gaudio recorded 11 saves, four ground balls, and one caused turnover. Defender Darric White added three ground balls and two caused turnovers.