MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Ten different players scored goals for Middlebury as they beat visiting Amherst for the twentieth straight time, winning 19-9 at Kohn Field on Saturday. The Panthers' 19 goals was the highest offensive output since 2004 when they scored 21 against Union College. Middlebury, which improves to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in NESCAC action, hosts Rensselaer on Tuesday afternoon, while the Lord Jeffs, who fall to 4-5 and 2-2 in NESCAC play, host Wesleyan on Wednesday.

Amherst won the opening face-off and quickly got on the board as Derek Cherney scored with a side-arm shot at the 14:15 mark in the first quarter. The Panthers scored the next six goals of the game, book-ended by Mike Stone's two goals. Amherst goalie Matt Pietroforte let in all six scores and was relieved by Andrew Harrison early in the second quarter.

The Lord Jeffs ended an 18:29 scoring drought as T.J. Jackson scored the first of his two consecutive goals at the 10:56 mark in the second quarter. His second goal cut the Panther lead to 6-3 with 8:47 left in the quarter. Middlebury tacked on two more goals, building an 8-3 lead going into the half.

In the third quarter, the Panthers outscored Amherst 9-4, including three goals by Skyler Hopkins, to take a commanding 17-7 advantage entering the fourth quarter. Both teams added a pair of goals in the fourth quarter, ending the scoring at 19-9.

Hopkins led all scorers with four goals and an assist, while four other Panthers added a pair of goals. Peter Mellen chipped in with a game-high four assists for Middlebury to go with one goal. Jackson and Cherney each scored three goals for Amherst. Alex Palmisano played most of the game in net for the Panthers stopping 11 shots and allowing nine goals. Pete Britt played the final minutes of the game making one save. Pietroforte was in net for the first 16:41 of the game, making six save and allowing six goals. Harrison played the remaining 43:19, giving up 13 goals and collecting 12 saves.

- - - -

MIDDLEBURY, VT – The Amherst College men's lacrosse team dipped below .500 this afternoon after a 19-9 loss to Middlebury College on the road. Amherst stays tough in the NESCAC standings with a 2-2 record this season, but will need some important conference wins in the second half of the season.

Amherst traveled north to face the Panthers today, and scored the first goal of the game on an unassisted tally by senior tri-captain Derek Cherney (Chappaqua, NY) just 45 seconds into the first quarter. Middlebury would respond with strength in the form of a 6-0 scoring run, which was started and capped off by Matt Stone goals.

Trailing 6-1 in the second quarter, Amherst nabbed a pair of unassisted scores from junior T.J. Jackson (Worcester, PA) who has piled up 10 goals in the last four games.

Middlebury refused to let Amherst creep back into the game before halftime, scoring another pair of goals in the second frame, including one dagger with just 28 seconds showing on the clock to take an 8-3 lead into the locker room.

The second half looked too much like the opening stanza for Amherst to mount any kind of comeback, as the Panthers peppered the Amherst defense with a total of 59 shots on the day. The goalie combo of first-year Andrew Harrison (Hanover, MA) and sophomore Matt Pietroforte (Brooklyn, NY) paired for 18 saves on the day for Amherst.

The Lord Jeffs return to action on Wednesday, April 11 when they play host to Wesleyan for a 4:00 p.m. start.

- - - -

SCORE BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Amherst.............  1  2  4  2 -  9
Middlebury..........  4  4  9  2 - 19

Amherst SCORING:
GOALS: T.J. Jackson 3; Derek Cherney 3; Thomas Foote 2; Will Ferrer 1.
ASSISTS: John-Thomas Milone 1.

Middlebury SCORING:
GOALS: Skyler Hopkins 4; Nick Bastis 2; Jim Cabrera 2; Mike Stone 2; Tom Petty 2; Rory Sanborn 2; Matt Ferrer 2; Peter Mellen 1; Mickey Gilchrist 1; Jeff Begin 1.
ASSISTS: Peter Mellen 4; Nick Bastis 2; Mickey Gilchrist 2; Jim Cabrera 1; Skyler Hopkins 1; Pete Smith 1; Bart Witmer 1.

SHOTS - AMH 35; MID 59.
PENALTIES - AMH 1/0:30; MID 3/2:30.
MAN-UP OPPORTUNITIES – AMH 0-3; MID 1-1.
FACEOFFS - AMH 13-31; MID 18-31.
CLEARS - AMH 11-20; MID 16-21.

GOALIES
AMH: Matt Pietroforte (16:41 minutes, 6 saves, 6 GA), Andrew Harrison (43:19 minutes, 25 shots-12 saves, 13 GA)
MID: Alex Palmisano (55:10 minutes, 11 saves, 9 GA), Pete Britt (04:50 minutes, 1save, 0 GA)

2007-04-07