Middlebury Wins 2003 Women's Ice Hockey Championship

Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information

Box Score

BRUNSWICK, Maine - Behind a 31-save effort from Katie Madouras the Middlebury women's ice hockey team took a 4-0 shutout win over Bowdoin in the NESCAC Championship game on Sunday in Brunswick. With the win, Middlebury (19-2-4) clinches a berth to the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament which begins next weekend. Bowdoin (21-1-3) is defeated for the first time this year and will hope for an at-large bid when pairings are announced on Sunday night.

An evenly-played first period saw the Polar Bears gain most of the early chances, taking six of the game's first eight shots. Madouras made several strong saves in the first 10 minutes of the contest, brushing aside numerous Bowdoin chances from close range. Twelve minutes in, Emily McKissock made back-to-back stops from between the circles by Angela Kapus and Jackie Cohen to keep the game scoreless. With six minutes left in the first frame, Emily Quizon collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated in all alone on McKissock, who made a kick save. McKissock then stopped a backhanded from Lorna Gifis chance with three minutes left in the frame as the game remained scoreless after one period of play.

After a fast-paced opening to the second period, Middlebury took a 1-0 lead at 8:01 when Jean Butler took a pass from Kapus in front and beat McKissock top-shelf. The Panthers increased their lead just 1:29 later when Hannah DeLong poked home a puck in front to give Middlebury a 2-0 edge. The Panthers continued the onslaught at 14:54 when Gloria Velez wristed a shot just inside the post to give Middlebury a 3-0 lead.

Middlebury locked down defensively to start the third period, stifling any chances that Bowdoin offered to start the frame. Bowdoin's best chance came eight minutes into the period as Kirsti Anderson took a shot from just outside the crease. Madouras made a sprawling save to keep the three-goal edge for the Panthers. Middlebury then successfully killed off a penalty at 11:39. The Panthers locked up the win at 16:20, when Lorna Gifis put one past McKissock for the clincher. Madouras, who did not play in the NESCAC Semifinals, made 31 saves in her fifth shutout of the year. McKissock stopped 21 saves in defeat. Bowdoin and Middlebury had tied twice earlier this season.

2003 NESCAC WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Saturday, March 1 at Higher Seeds
at No. 2 Middlebury 9, No. 7 Amherst 0
at No. 3 Williams 3, No. 6 Wesleyan 0
No. 5 Colby 5, at No. 4 Hamilton 3

Semifinals - Saturday, March 8 at Bowdoin
at No. 1 Bowdoin 5, No. 5 Colby 0
No. 2 Middlebury 3, vs. No. 3 Williams 2

Championship - Sunday, March 9 at Bowdoin
No. 2 Middlebury 4, vs. No. 1 Bowdoin 0