Middlebury will host Springfield College today (Saturday, March 31) at
3:00pm.  The start time has been moved back to allow more time for the field
to be plowed.

We enter the game at 4-0 after returning from our spring trip.  The news on
our two spring trip games, Connecticut College and Washington College is a
little old, but since I was gone and did not write anything I will give you
a few highlights of each game.

Connecticut College battled us hard as they always have.  I can only
remember two games in the last ten years that were relatively easy versus
Conn.  They lack depth but have one great midfielder, a couple other solid
offensive players, a solid defense and very good goalie.  We looked a little
slow getting used to being on grass for the first time (although going from
Astroturf to grass is easier than going from Fletcher Field House to grass!)
They beat us on too many loose balls early and their goalie was making some
nice saves, so they were able to hang around with us through 3 quarters.  We
lost Holt Hopkins with a thigh injury for the second half, so it took some
getting used to playing without him as well.  Our depth showed up in the 4th
Quarter and they did not have the legs to sustain their efforts as we pulled
away to a 15-9 victory.  It was not the prettiest game we have ever played,
but we did show persistence and we ground out a solid victory.

After spending a few days practicing down in Maryland we played Washington
College on Wednesday.  Washington was ranked 12th going into the game, but
had just come off a good victory over defending D2 national champs,
Limestone, the previous Saturday.  The scout from the Limestone coach was to
forget about any of their other scores, Washington was formidable and
playing great lacrosse...I concur!

They opened up a 3-0 early in the game and then led 4-2 at the end of the
first quarter.  I think it took a little getting used to the high level of
emotion and a much higher ability level than we had seen yet this season.
They have great offensive skills and created some nice goals early.  Eric
Krieger, our freshman goalie, stood on his head a little in the first half,
allowing us to weather the storm and inch back to a 5-5 halftime score.
There were a couple times in the first half when they could have pulled away
more, but Eric kept us in the game at the defensive end and poise kept us in
at the offensive end.

The third quarter was all Middlebury and we looked to be in solid control
going into the 4th quarter.  Our inexperience at the defensive end showed up
in the 4th, however, as we have a difficult time stopping them and momentum
was clearly on their side.  The one shining light to the 4th quarter was the
confidence at the offensive end.  We were able to remain poised and
confident on offense and not get rattled, so after they tied the game at 12
and then went ahead 13-12 we were still able to match them and go up 16-14
with around 4 minutes remaining.  At that point we were able to eat some
time off the clock down to about a minute and a half without much
resistance.  We then turned the ball over and things got scary again!
Washington cleared the ball and drew two penalties!  It did not take long
for them to score a goal in the two man up situation.  They controlled the
ensuing face off, called time out to run a play.  It wasn't really a play,
just put it in your best player's hands and go to the goal, he ripped a shot
to the upper corner left handed!  It was all nerves as they again won the
face off and had a couple opportunities in the last seconds but came up
empty.  I think both teams knew whoever controlled the OT face off would
most likely score and win.  Both defenses and goalies were rattled and there
are very few great saves in sudden death/victory OT.  We won the face off
and called time out.  There was no need to call a play, the only play was to
make sure we ran a play just to get Matt Dunn the ball.  He had been
dominant all day as he was against Conn (6 goals vs. Conn and 4 vs.
Washington).  We still cannot figure out why they did not put a long stick
on Matt.  Matt went to work on the left wing, slowly backing in and rolling
as he had all day.  He is a slow dodger, not slow with speed, but just very
deliberate using his body and stick protection to set up his shot or a feed.
The negative is that we stand around and watch him at times, but he is very
effective.  Matt and Zach Herbert set up a little play that had worked
earlier in the game.  Matt worked the right side while Zach set up on the
pipe. They knew from earlier in the game that Zach's defenseman would get
anxious and leave the pipe to help on Matt, he did it in OT just as he had
done earlier.  Matt dumped it to Zach on the pipe, Zach is a great finisher
and he was able to score the winning goal.  It was a great job of not losing
composure and winning against a strong opponent on their home turf.  They
wanted redemption from our 16-7 playoff victory at Washington two years ago,
but it was not to be!

It will not get any easier today. Springfield is excellent, probably the
best team on our schedule.  They are strong and deep at every position.  I
think their goalie is one of the top two or three in the country.  He can be
extremely hot when he gets on a roll.
I hope to be writing again soon with good news!

Erin