Before
I get started with my recap I want to thank both Mike and Yanik for everything
they're doing with their respective causes, it makes me proud to be a Panther
when I see that kind of work being done by our alums. I know there's going to be a table set up
during our game this weekend allowing spectators to support One Fund as well.
We
made the short trip down to Saratoga on Tuesday and were able to pull away for
a 12-5 win in a game that was much closer for the first three and a half
quarters. Skidmore has a few nice
midfielders and a great feeder at x, during their first couple of possessions
they had our heads spinning as they found some cutters inside and were making
some great cuts off ball. After they
scored the first goal of the game on a back door cut we ended up rattling off
the next four in a row to go up 4-1 after the first quarter. After a disappointing game against Trinity,
Andrew Metros responded the way you'd hope a senior would and scored two of the
first quarter goals on right handed alley dodges. When Met is on and locked in mentally there
aren't too many guys in the NESCAC that can hang with him.
The
2nd quarter started much like the first with Skidmore generating some great
looks inside and scoring the first goal before we responded with four straight
of our own. Cal Williams started this
second run of the game with a
coast to coast trip off a nice ground ball in our defensive
end. It was great to see Cal get up to
full speed in the middle of the field and stick a shot, hopefully that's a sign
of things to come from him. Off the
ensuing face off, Harrison Goodkind stuck a righty shot on the run which was
quickly followed by a nice dodge from Jon Broome to make it 7-2 Panthers. Our last goal of the quarter came off of a
re-dodge from senior Erich Pfeffer on a perfectly
executed play up top, hopefully that's a sign of things to come from Pfeff as well. As we
wind down the end of the regular season we're definitely looking for one more
offensive midfielder to step up, that challenge will be going out to the team
before practice today and I can't wait to see who steps up.
We
began the 2nd half pretty slowly and let Skidmore back into the game, they
scored the first two goals of the half to cut our lead to 8-4. Fortunately Nate Gaudio was on his game from
start to finish and didn't allow Skidmore to make it any closer in the
3rd. We went on our final four goal run
of the game starting in the end of the 3rd and into the 4th quarter to go up 12-4
with a few minutes to play. Once again
Jon Broome led us in scoring on the day with three goals and an assist. Senior Stew Kerr added two goals of his own. Both came in 6v6 offense which is something
we've been looking for out of him and hope to get more of going forward.
The
game ball went to first-year Stephen Brown (St. Sebastian's, MA) as he stepped
into the starting LSM role with Darric White out for the game. He did a
terrific job. Stephen also is a part of
our hockey program here at Middlebury and Coach Beaney said it best when
describing him to me as "an honest competitor". We love how Browny competes everyday as he plays with a high motor and is as
earnest as they come.
Next
up is Alumni Weekend and the Colby Mules on Saturday at 1pm. They have a few guys who can shoot the rock, it should be another great game. We hope to see many of you back on campus
this weekend!
If
you haven't already done so, please register for the gathering at American
Flatbread here:
registering here<http://www.alumniconnections.com/links/link.cgi?l=4262799&h=35047&e=MDR-20130325130932>.
Also
don't forget your stick as we'll be playing an alumni game on Sunday morning at
10am and can get you any type of equipment that you need if you show up early.