Re: NESCAC 2016-2017 season
I know writing about the '15-'16 NESCAC is now old news, but I didn't get back to Old Lyme until early this morning. Up early, as the Editor (berated for years in her choice to be born the weekend of the NCAA women's DIII finals) has arranged to just bail and fly off to Barbados for a week (as we here in southeast CT are observing a blizzard watch for Tuesday).
Arrive at Kenyon to learn both Norwich and Middlebury will be unable to dress key contributors (Conway and Hlinka respectively). So of course the Goal Gods responded with a 5-4 OT offensive slugfest. Panther Neuberger (29/34) and Cadet King (41/45) both made big saves all night (King made a jaw dropping pick on Portner in the 1st OT) .
Middlebury scored early with Watson flipping a pass from deep in the right corner of the Midd zone, over the Norwich D, to Winslow breaking free into the Cadet zone on left wing; Winslow stayed wide and fed Sherman to her right in the slot for a wrist shot beating King to the gloveside up. Neuberger made a big save on Cadet McGovern from low in the left circle at 4:30. King robbed Sheline with her right pad on a won face-off shot starting Midd's initial powerplay.
The Panthers went up 2 (most dangerous lead in hockey?) with Jennings across to Lafontaine on the blueline; Lafontaine's drive low on net for a pad save by King and Winslow stuffing the rebound home. Norwich then commenced their first charge of the afternoon. Rossini made a long run to pick the puck up off the end boards and pass to Schwenzferer at the gloveside of the Panther net; Schwenzferer rammed a one timer home. Less than a minute later Labbe broke in zone and from the right circle rocketed a shot off Neuberger, bounding up high, landing at the top of the crease and netted by McGovern, in beating Neuberger stickside. Norwich pressured the Panthers with Neuberger coming up big on Schwenzferer from low left circle at 16:30 and stuffing McGovern walking in from the corner for a backhand at her stickside post at 17:20. Then Midd got one back. Sheline (and Young) ground the puck from the left corner to Watson on point and across to Zumwinkle on right point. Zumwinkle had space and her slapshot from just above the right circle beat King up gloveside.
Early in the 3rd the Panthers extended the lead to 4-2. Aiello was grinding low in the right corner; Jackson moved out from the right half boards, circled into the high slot, wacked one on net and St. Clair's put back was in from King's gloveside. A second Cadet charge resulted in 2 goals in less than a minute, again. Credit the Norwich team staying focused and not seeing their season slip away down 2 on the road with less than 5 to play! On the powerplay Schwenzferer broke in zone carried the puck through the slot, drifted right and made the perfect feed to Tiberi streaking into the play, backdoor, in up to Neuberger's blockerside. Seconds later a scrum at the Panther crease saw Neuberger parry a Tiberi attempt and Murphy jam in the rebound from the stickside of the crease to tie 4-4 and send things to OT.
First OT was just too intense not to watch and give up notes. Both goalies under just a bit of pressure, and King did make the OMG save on Portner and Neuberger robbed Rossini on an odd rush, but that's all I specifically wrote. Middlebury had chances with 2 powerplays and (pressure? in NCAA quarter-final OT) resulted in both benches assessed minors for too many players.
Tension was building. Fatigue...nerves...and I am talking parents here. The end came quickly. The Panthers came up empty of the holdover powerplay starting OT 2, and perhaps inspired by the successful kill, Norwich struck. Labbe made a move across the end boards, behind the Midd net and to the crease out from Neuberger's stickside; McGovern found the puck and the game winner.
Must be wrenching to end your career in an OT loss. I guess it is sad at the end win or lose. I remember a NESCAC semi final (in Kenyon) some years ago in which both the Editor's daughters played on opposing teams. Obviously one won, one lost, but I cannot remember which cried more.
I confess to attending all 28 games Middlebury played this season (yeah, yeah, wearing the Midd hat), but I have tried to maintain my Obserbearish objectivity. Honest. Bowdoin-Conn at Fenway added an interesting element to the NESCAC schedule and there were even some Sunday games!
Anyway, now I just need to figure out getting to Adrian for the finals.
Congratulation to the Norwich players and Coach Bolding for advancing (and I apologize if the above composition lacks Norwich nuance, but I just don't know all your #s) .
Once again, thank you players, coaches and parents for the cosmic effort, time and energy you put into to participating and making the women's DIII season so much fun!!!
...now let's freaking win another title for the NESCAC next year, eh???
I know writing about the '15-'16 NESCAC is now old news, but I didn't get back to Old Lyme until early this morning. Up early, as the Editor (berated for years in her choice to be born the weekend of the NCAA women's DIII finals) has arranged to just bail and fly off to Barbados for a week (as we here in southeast CT are observing a blizzard watch for Tuesday).
Arrive at Kenyon to learn both Norwich and Middlebury will be unable to dress key contributors (Conway and Hlinka respectively). So of course the Goal Gods responded with a 5-4 OT offensive slugfest. Panther Neuberger (29/34) and Cadet King (41/45) both made big saves all night (King made a jaw dropping pick on Portner in the 1st OT) .
Middlebury scored early with Watson flipping a pass from deep in the right corner of the Midd zone, over the Norwich D, to Winslow breaking free into the Cadet zone on left wing; Winslow stayed wide and fed Sherman to her right in the slot for a wrist shot beating King to the gloveside up. Neuberger made a big save on Cadet McGovern from low in the left circle at 4:30. King robbed Sheline with her right pad on a won face-off shot starting Midd's initial powerplay.
The Panthers went up 2 (most dangerous lead in hockey?) with Jennings across to Lafontaine on the blueline; Lafontaine's drive low on net for a pad save by King and Winslow stuffing the rebound home. Norwich then commenced their first charge of the afternoon. Rossini made a long run to pick the puck up off the end boards and pass to Schwenzferer at the gloveside of the Panther net; Schwenzferer rammed a one timer home. Less than a minute later Labbe broke in zone and from the right circle rocketed a shot off Neuberger, bounding up high, landing at the top of the crease and netted by McGovern, in beating Neuberger stickside. Norwich pressured the Panthers with Neuberger coming up big on Schwenzferer from low left circle at 16:30 and stuffing McGovern walking in from the corner for a backhand at her stickside post at 17:20. Then Midd got one back. Sheline (and Young) ground the puck from the left corner to Watson on point and across to Zumwinkle on right point. Zumwinkle had space and her slapshot from just above the right circle beat King up gloveside.
Early in the 3rd the Panthers extended the lead to 4-2. Aiello was grinding low in the right corner; Jackson moved out from the right half boards, circled into the high slot, wacked one on net and St. Clair's put back was in from King's gloveside. A second Cadet charge resulted in 2 goals in less than a minute, again. Credit the Norwich team staying focused and not seeing their season slip away down 2 on the road with less than 5 to play! On the powerplay Schwenzferer broke in zone carried the puck through the slot, drifted right and made the perfect feed to Tiberi streaking into the play, backdoor, in up to Neuberger's blockerside. Seconds later a scrum at the Panther crease saw Neuberger parry a Tiberi attempt and Murphy jam in the rebound from the stickside of the crease to tie 4-4 and send things to OT.
First OT was just too intense not to watch and give up notes. Both goalies under just a bit of pressure, and King did make the OMG save on Portner and Neuberger robbed Rossini on an odd rush, but that's all I specifically wrote. Middlebury had chances with 2 powerplays and (pressure? in NCAA quarter-final OT) resulted in both benches assessed minors for too many players.
Tension was building. Fatigue...nerves...and I am talking parents here. The end came quickly. The Panthers came up empty of the holdover powerplay starting OT 2, and perhaps inspired by the successful kill, Norwich struck. Labbe made a move across the end boards, behind the Midd net and to the crease out from Neuberger's stickside; McGovern found the puck and the game winner.
Must be wrenching to end your career in an OT loss. I guess it is sad at the end win or lose. I remember a NESCAC semi final (in Kenyon) some years ago in which both the Editor's daughters played on opposing teams. Obviously one won, one lost, but I cannot remember which cried more.
I confess to attending all 28 games Middlebury played this season (yeah, yeah, wearing the Midd hat), but I have tried to maintain my Obserbearish objectivity. Honest. Bowdoin-Conn at Fenway added an interesting element to the NESCAC schedule and there were even some Sunday games!
Anyway, now I just need to figure out getting to Adrian for the finals.
Congratulation to the Norwich players and Coach Bolding for advancing (and I apologize if the above composition lacks Norwich nuance, but I just don't know all your #s) .
Once again, thank you players, coaches and parents for the cosmic effort, time and energy you put into to participating and making the women's DIII season so much fun!!!
...now let's freaking win another title for the NESCAC next year, eh???
