5/7/05 - Middlebury has earned a spot in the NESCAC Championship game after defeating Bates 15-6 at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers will take on Wesleyan, a 13-9 winner over Amherst in the title game on Sundat at noon, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
Middlebury led 2-1 with 5:36 left in the first quarter on a pair of goals from Dave Leach. Jonathan Sisto struck as time expired in the first quarter to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead after one. Sisto scored again at 11:49 of the second quarter before David Pritchard answered for Bates to make it a 4-2 game. The Panthers scored a pair to go up 6-2 before the Bobcats scored twice in the final 2:11 of the half to make it a 6-4 Middlebury lead at the break.
Bates cut the lead to one on a goal from Matt Erisman at 13:20 of the third quarter, but the would be the Bobcats last goal for the game's next 20:53. During that time, the Middlebury defense stood tough, while the offense tacked on nine goals to seal the win. Following a goal from Aaron Herter, J.P. Coviello and Mark Foster each scored man-up goals to make it a 9-5 game. Sisto scored his third of the game, while Coviello netted his second as Middlebury led 11-5 heading into the fourth quarter. Following four more goals, Brent Morin scored for Bates with 7:27 left to break the drought and make it a 15-6 final.
Sisto paced Middlebury with three goals, while Foster added two goals and two assists. Erisman and Pitt each had two goals for Bates.
Date: May 7, 2005 - 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Alumni Stadium - Site: Middlebury, Vt.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 OT F
Bates (9-6) 1 3 1 1 - 6
Middlebury (13-1) 3 3 5 4 - 15
Middlebury Scoring: Mark Foster 2-2, Jonathan Sisto 3-0, Jim Cabrera 2-1, J.P. Coviello 2-1, Henry Sheehan 1-2, Dave Leach 2-0, Aaron Herter 1-0, Travis Meyer 1-0, Peter Mellen 1-0, Gave Wood 0-1.
Bates Scoring: Matt Erisman 2-0, Brenton Pitt 2-0, David Pritchard 1-1, Brent Morin 1-1, Craig Blake 0-1, Peter Friedman 0-1.
Shots: Midd. 42, Bates 19 - Man-Up: Midd. 2/4, Bates 1/3 - Face-offs: Midd. 18, Bates 6
GOALKEEPING (saves)
M-Alex Palmisano (52:33 mins., 5 saves, 6 GA), Matt Levy (7:27 mins., 2 saves, 0 GA)
B-Paul Kazarian (50 :27 mins., 10 saves, 14 GA), Peter Boston (9 :33 mins., 1 saves, 1 GA)
