Courtesy Middlebury Athletic Communications

Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Williams won its third NESCAC title with a 4-3 overtime victory over Middlebury on Kohn Field. The win avenges an earlier season overtime loss, and a 1-0 loss in the 2003 NESCAC title game. The loss snaps a 15-game winning streak for the Panthers and is their first of the season. Williams receives an automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Championship, while Middlebury will hope for an at-large bid when selections are announced Sunday night.

Williams took a 1-0 lead when Tara Boyd scored after a defensive save by Michelle Archambault. The Ephs took a 2-0 lead at the 10:10 mark when Cathleen Clark went one-on-one with Middlebury goalkeeper Meghan McGillen and scored on the rebound. Middlebury bounced back, just 1:21 later as Lauryn Nicasio found Ashley Lyddane in front, before she finished among a scramble after a penalty corner began the play. Williams took a 2-1 lead into the halftime break, despite being out shot 18-7.

Middlebury turned up the pressure midway through the second half, but could not seem to solve Williams netminder Wendy Stone. Allison Smith broke through at 24:41 as she tipped in a shot from Channing Weymouth after a penalty corner to knot the game at two. Williams regained the lead at the 10:10 mark as Carolina Jolly slid one past McGillen on a rebound which started from a penalty corner. The Panthers hung tough and were able to tie the game once again, with just 5:42 remaining. Reid Berrien was able to get the equalizer for the Panthers as she scored with a nifty shot down low after another penalty corner. Middlebury continued to bring pressure in the game’s final five minutes, but could not net the game-winner despite several penalty corners and quality shots.

The game headed into overtime where the Panthers had a few chance early before the Ephs would put the game away with 8:05 left. Cathleen Clark made a nice centering pass to Boyd, who fired a strong shot into the back of the cage to give the Ephs the conference title.

Middlebury held a big advantage statistically, but not on the scoreboard. The Panthers out shot the Ephs 35-16 and had a 17-1 advantage on penalty corners. McGillen ended the game with six saves for Middlebury, while Stone made 13 saves for Williams.

2004 NESCAC FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, Oct. 31 at Higher Seeds
No. 7 Colby 1, at No. 2 Bowdoin 0
at No. 3 Williams 1, No. 6 Trinity 0
No. 5 Tufts 2, at No. 4 Wesleyan 0

Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 6 at Middlebury
at No. 1 Middlebury 4, No. 7 Colby 0
No. 3 Williams 3, vs. No. 5 Tufts 0

Championship - Sunday, Nov. 7 at Middlebury
No. 3 Williams 4, at No. 1 Middlebury 3 - OT