MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Junior Mimi Schatz scored her second goal of the game with 4:02 remaining off a perfect feed by junior Amanda Smith to break a 9-9 tie and it held up as Middlebury College (9-1, 7-0 NESCAC) pulled out a 10-9 win at Wesleyan University (7-5, 4-4 NESCAC) Saturday. Middlebury, which has played in 13 consecutive NCAA Division III tournaments with five national titles and 13 straight Final Four appearances, remained undefeated in NESCAC regular-season play since the NESCAC established its round-robin format in 2001. Middlebury, ranked third nationally in Division III, is 61-0 vs. the NESCAC in regular-season play since 2001 and is the six-time defending NESCAC tournament champion. Wesleyan, ranked 13th nationally in Division III, had never gotten closer that five goals (16-11 in 2005) vs. Middlebury in the six previous meetings, all Panther wins.

Wesleyan brought a 5-0 home record on its new artificial turf field into the game with wins over Bowdoin (ranked 11th) and Colby (ranked 15th) to its credit. Wesleyan also has a road victory over #16-ranked Tufts this year.

Middlebury opened up the game's largest lead with 16:51 left in the second half behind three straight goals to break a 6-6 tie and go ahead 9-6. Goals by junior Katherine Entwisle, Schatz and goal-scoring leader senior Kim Walker in a span of 1:33 made it a three-goal margin. For Walker, it was her 24th goal of the year. Wesleyan came right back to score the next three goals but more judiciously as first-year Elena Parasco caught a pass from sophomore Laurel Sticklor on a restart and deposited the ball into the net to make it 9-7 at 12:57. At 8:40 sophomore Sarah Orkin completed her hat trick with her team-leading 26th goal of the year by running the length of the field and scoring high to make it 9-8. Sophomore Jade Scott netted her first goal of the season as the defender ushered a fast break and after a restart, circle the Middlebury net and scored at 5:06 for the 9-9 deadlock.

Wesleyan controlled the draw but Middlebury forced a turnover and brought the ball into the offensive zone. Smith made a sharp pass to a cutting Schatz who put the ball in for the go-ahead and eventual game-winner. It was her 17th goal of the year while the assist was the 17th for Walker who leads the Panthers with 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points following her two-goal, two-assist afternoon.

Wesleyan had several possessions in the final four minutes including a free-position attempt by senior Cortney Tetrault with 1:17 to go but Middlebury sophomore goalie Blair Bowie came up with her 10th save of the game on the low shot to her right. Wesleyan got the ball back into the Middlebury end with :40 to go but a good stick-check by junior Reid Berrien gave Middlebury the ball and a chance to run out the clock.

Wesleyan goalie sophomore Rachel Stemerman posted 11 stops in the Cardinal net.

Senior Liza Humes also had two goals and two assists for Middlebury as she upped her season total to 32 points, second behind Smith. Walker is third with 29. Senior Claire Edelen dished off three assists for Middlebury. Tetrault, with two assists for Wesleyan, cracked 40 points for the year (15-25-40) while Orkin is second in points with 28.

Score by Period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Middlebury College..  6  4 - 10
Wesleyan University.  5  4 -  9
 
Attendance: 200
 
Middlebury College SCORING:
GOALS: Amanda Smith 2; Liza Humes 2; Dana Heritage 2; Mimi Schatz 2;
       Kim Walker 1; Katherine Entwisle 1.
ASSISTS: Claire Edelen 3; Liza Humes 2; Amanda Smith 2; Katherine
         Entwisle 1; Kim Walker 1.
 
Wesleyan University SCORING:
GOALS: Sarah Orkin 3; Elena Parasco 2; Laurel Sticklor 1; Erin
       McCarthy 1; Jen Bianculli 1; Jade Scott 1.
ASSISTS: Cortney Tetrault 2; Charlotte Hastings 1; Laurel Sticklor 1.
 
SHOTS BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Middlebury College.. 16  9 - 25
Wesleyan University. 14  9 - 23
 
GROUND BALLS BY PRD   1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Middlebury College.. 13  8 - 21
Wesleyan University.  9  7 - 16
 
TURNOVERS BY PRD      1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Middlebury College..  9 11 - 20
Wesleyan University. 16 12 - 28
 
CLEARS BY PERIOD       1     2     Total
----------------------------------------
Middlebury College..  7-13  6-9  - 13-22
Wesleyan University.  7-9   5-5  - 12-14
 
FREE-POSITION SHOTS    1     2     Total
----------------------------------------
Middlebury College..  1-1   0-0  -  1-1
Wesleyan University.  1-1   0-2  -  1-3
 
SAVES BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Middlebury College..  6  4 - 10
Wesleyan University.  8  3 - 11
 
DRAW CONTROLS BY PRD  1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Middlebury College..  7  4 - 11
Wesleyan University.  5  5 - 10
 
GOALTENDER SUMMARY
Wesleyan University       Minutes   GA   W/L Saves
--------------------------------------------------
13 Rachel Stemerman....     60:00   10    L     11
 
GOALTENDER SUMMARY
Middlebury College        Minutes   GA   W/L Saves
--------------------------------------------------
26 Blair Bowie.........     60:00    9    W     10

2007-04-21