A strange day at Kenyon yesterday afternoon. Congratulations to Coach Steele and the Camels on their thrilling 2-1 OT upset win over Middlebury in the NESCAC quarter final! The Panthers skated without their two leading scorers due to disciplinary incidents of the past 10 days.
The Camels took an early lead when Bogue held the puck at the blue line as it came up the left wing half boards and from the left point got the puck on net; Midd goalie Jones did the splits but Izzi with a put back and then Anctil for the score were there to cash in the rebound. Minutes later Midd had a good look at Fralick when a long pass sprang Joyce on a semi break away; Fralick made the save on Joyce's shot from the right circle, but a penalty was called as Joyce, tied up trying for the rebound, crashed into the gloveside post. Wardwell then rang a shot from the right circle off the cross bar at 10:30. The 2nd opened with Middlebury quickly evening the score a 1-1. Krakower skated up the left wing in her own zone and then made a diagonal indirect pass cross ice off the boards in front of the Panther bench. Schulman raced down right wing, fielded the pass, muscled around the Conn D and got a shot on net from a wide angle; Fralick made the save, but Joyce, coming up crashing the net made the score. The rest of the 2nd saw Conn whistled for 4 penalties and the Panthers mount relentless pressure with good puck control on the powerplay, but the Camel defense and stellar work by Fralick held them at bay. The 3rd saw more of the same, including 2 full minutes of the Panthers skating 5x3. Conn did skate a powerplay of their own with time running down, but regulation ended tied at 1-1. The OT opened with Midd's Jones making a spectacular series of saves at the gloveside post. The game winner came on a faceoff to Jones' right following an icing call on the Panthers. Conn won the face off, got the puck to the net and it hopped up over Jones for the score; Germano with the goal and Moore with the assist.
I admit to a certain disappointment at the outcome, but I have to say it was a great game. My hat is off to Coach Mandigo and his moral courage in making the decision suspending his players for this game. The value of athletics in higher education is to teach student athletes that they are responsible for their actions and will be held accountable. It is fashionable to see the Panthers as having some special relationship with the on ice officials; the fact is the Middlebury culture does not tolerate the careless, often selfish, play which results in penalties, or play that can cause injury to others.
Best of luck to the Camels as they advance to the semi final against Williams next Saturday!
