Re: NESCAC '13-'14 season
Today's schedule afforded the opportunity to take in games at Middlebury and Northfield. The only problem was travelling between the two in the time between games. I had planned to go the back way through the roads less travelled, but upon making my way up to the approaches to the Lincoln Gap I was forced to retrace my route due to snow up in those steep hills (I would go into detail on this but for fear the Editor might object to this sort of misadventure...). Anyway, quickly rerouting through Moretown and Moretown Mountain Road saw me arrive at Kreitzberg only 8 or so minutes after faceoff. Unfortunately, my arrival coincided with the start of the Charron (2 goals, 2 assists)-Gallagher (1 goal, 2 assists) show, as Norwich goalie Fairchild shutout the Polar Bears with a 17 save effort. Not too much else to say about a 5-0 Bowdoin loss.
The Polar Bears start the New Year home with Manhattanville, the MIAC's St. Thomas and St. Anselm before they begin their remaining 14 games of NESCAC play 1/10 at Conn College.
The game at Kenyon was far more enjoyable from the NESCAC perspective, although Castleton did hang tough through two periods. The Panthers came alive in the 3rd, scoring four times, and were backstopped by Marsh's 16 saves for her second shutout of the season. Midd jumped out to the early lead when Laven launched a drive from the blueline; Joyce put the rebound back on goal and Schulman rammed it home from the edge of the right circle. Castleton goalie Stephens kept things close through the 2nd and made a spectacular save on Sullivan, robbing her attempt from the top of the crease sprawling and smothering the puck while on her back. The 3rd saw the Panthers break things open with three goals in less than four minutes. The flurry started with Brownschilde making a nice play at the blueline, keeping the puck in the zone; she fed Bielawski in the slot and her low shot made it 2-0. Sullivan made a nice play working alone deep in the left corner with Midd changing; she fed back as Bielawski came in zone off the bench; Bielawski's drive from the high slot rebounded to Fluke and her put back from the top of the crease found the twine. The Panthers scored quickly on a powerplay
06) with Bielawski winning the draw back to Wardwell at right point; Wardwell's low shot was deftly redirected by Mandigo for the score. Midd closed out the scoring with Krakower in deep, grabbing a rebound and from the right of the net picking the opposite top corner from what seemed an impossible angle; assists to Fluke and Ugalde on the play.
Tomorrow will see Amherst take a crack at the Cadets in Kreitzberg at 4pm, and that will close out NESCAC play prior to the Christmas break.
