Middlebury has advanced to the NESCAC semifinals after a 6-0 win over Williams in a quarterfinal game played in Kenyon Arena. The Panthers will meet Amherst next weekend at 4:00 p.m. at Colby, while the host school takes on Trinity at 1:00 p.m. The NESCAC Championship game will be played at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Middlebury moves to 17-6-2 overall, while Williams ends its season at 9-12-4.
Williams had a great chance just 30 seconds in, but Ryan Young's effort in transition was denied with a pad save by Ross Cherry. Neither team scored through a series of penalties, as Middlebury held a 6-2 shots advantage early. The Panthers had a great chance at the 10-minute mark, as Casey Ftorek just missed on a rebound attempt after a shot from John Sullivan was saved. Just seconds later, a Ftorek shot was saved, leaving the rebound to Bryan Curran, who buried the goal.
The Panthers made it a 2-0 game with 3:40 left as Ken Suchoski and Tom Maldonado worked a nice give-and-go in transition, with Maldonado finishing for the shorthanded goal. Williams took a five-minute major penalty at 17:26 and a minor at 18:15, but Middlebury could not score on the power plays.
Middlebury made it a 3-0 game at 6:12 of the second period, as Mason Graddock tipped in a shot from Leonard Badeau after a feed from Charlie Townsend. The Panthers struck again at 11:56 as Townsend scored with a nice move from the slot to give Middlebury a 4-0 lead.
Townsend netted his second of the game 5:45 into third as he scored from the slot after a nice centering pass from Jed McDonald. Ian Drummond gave the Panthers a 6-0 advantage at 12:23 as he converted a feed from Ftorek on the left side.
Cherry made 14 saves in goal to earn his first shutout of the season and eighth of his career, while Marc Pulde made 32 stops for the Ephs.
Date: March 1, 2008 - 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Kenyon Arena - Site: Middlebury, Vt.
TEAM 1 2 3 OT F
Williams (9-12-4) 0 0 0 - 0
Middlebury (17-6-2) 2 2 2 - 6
SCORING
M-1st (10:38) - Bryan Curran (Casey Ftorek)
M-1st (16:20) - SH: Tom Maldonado (Ken Suchoski)
M-2nd (6:12) - Mason Graddock (Leonard Badeau, Charlie
Townsend)
M-2nd (11:56) - Charlie Townsend (Badeau, Mickey Gilchrist)
M-3rd (5:45) - Townsend (Jed McDonald, Graddock)
M-3rd (12:23) - Ian Drummond (Ftorek, John Sullivan)
GOALTENDING (saves)
Ross Cherry-M (60 min., 14 saves, 0 GA)
Marc Pulde-W (60 min., 32 saves, 6 GA)
