The Panthers celebrate during a game earlier this season.
The #5/second-seeded Middlebury men's lacrosse program has its sights set on the program's eighth conference crown as it gears up for the NESCAC Semifinals this weekend. The Panthers take on #16/third-seeded Williams on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with the remainder of the tournament being hosted by #1/top-seeded Tufts. The extremely competitive field features four ranked teams, with three of those in the top 10 spots in the nation.
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY
- Middlebury earned the second seed by putting together a 9-1 record in NESCAC play.
- This is the Panthers' 20th appearance in the conference tournament, tied for second most in the league's history.
- Middlebury has also won the second-most NESCAC Tournament contests (28) in the history of the event, trailing only Tufts with 39.
- The team will be looking to claim the program's eighth conference crown, with the last title coming in 2007.
- The Panthers advanced to the semifinal round after a thrilling double overtime 14-13 victory over seventh-seeded Hamilton on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium last Saturday.
- The squad ranks second in Division III in clearing percentage (91.1%), and is first in the NESCAC, holding opponents to just 70.7 percent on clearing attempts this season.
- Middlebury also paces the conference in caused turnovers per game at 11.94, while ranking second in the league behind Tufts in groundballs (615), scoring margin (4.44) and winning percentage (.938).
PANTHERS TO WATCH
- Billy Curtis had a solid performance last week, moving into first on the team with 57 points (21G, 36A). The attacker had three assists and one goal in the opening quarter of the NESCAC Quarterfinal against Hamilton.
- Right behind Curtis in points is Russell Thorndike with 56, pacing the Panthers with 38 tallies while dishing out 18 helpers. He has found nylon at least twice in every game except two this season.
- Rounding out the offensive output is William Ryan who has fired in 35 markers this season to go along with 11 assists.
- At the X, William Munroe has been sensational, owning a .487 faceoff win percentage while leading the team with 82 groundballs.
- Defensively, Luke Simpson has caused the third-most turnovers in the NESCAC this season (37). The defender ranks second on the team in ground balls, tallying 59 on the year.
- In goal, Hayden Kern has started all 16 contests. The first-year has recorded double-digit saves on 10 occasions, including a career-best 17 in his collegiate debut against Bowdoin. Kern was critical in the quarterfinal victory, stopping 13 shots.
ABOUT WILLIAMS
- Williams earned the third seed with a 6-4 NESCAC regular-season mark.
- The Ephs are making their 16th appearance in the tournament, and are seeking the program's second NESCAC title.
- Williams won its lone championship in 2008, and has advanced to the finals on three occasions.
- The Ephs rank third behind Middlebury and Tufts in clearing percentage (.889) and are second in saves with 226 on the year.
EPHS TO WATCH
- Calvin Caputo is one of just three players to start in all 16 games this year. The attacker paces the squad in points (53) and goals 36) and is second with 17 assists.
- Right behind Caputo in points is Finlay MacKnight with 45, leading the squad with 21 helpers, while ranking second in tallies (24).
- Leading the defensive unit is Ian Di Pietro and goalie Matthew Frietas. Di Pietro sits atop the Ephs' leaderboard with 58 groundballs and 22 caused turnovers. Frietas is the only goalie in the conference to own a single-digit goals-against-average (9.97), while also ranking first in save percentage (.582).
SERIES HISTORY
- Middlebury and Williams will meet for the 74th time on Saturday, with the Panthers owning a 46-27 advantage in the all-time series.
- Middlebury defeated the Ephs 14-8 in the regular-season finale.
- The teams have met only three times in the NESCAC Tournament, most recently in 2015, with the Panthers winning 14-13. The Ephs lead the conference tournament series 2-1.
ABOUT TUFTS
- Tufts is the four-time defending NESCAC Champion and earned the top seed for the eighth time in program history. The program is also rank #1 in the latest Division III poll.
- The Jumbos are seeking their conference-leading 12th trophy.
- Middlebury's only loss of the regular season came at the hands of Tufts, as the Jumbos slipped past the Panthers 19-15.
- The programs have met 59 times, with the Panthers leading the all-time series 33-25-1.
- Middlebury and Tufts have met nine times in the NESCAC Tournament, with the Jumbos holding a 6-3 series advantage.
- The Jumbos rank in the top 10 in the country in nine statistical categories, including leading the nation in winning percentage (1.000) and scoring offense (19.75).
- Tufts is led by Jack Boyden who paces Division III in points per game (7.73) and assists per contest (4.53), while their faceoff specialist Mason Kohn is fourth in the nation with a .720 winning percentage.
ABOUT AMHERST
- Amherst is seeking its first NESCAC title and is looking to make the conference final for just the third time.
- Middlebury and the Mammoths have squared off 70 times, with the Panthers leading the all-time series 43-26-1. Middlebury defeated Amherst 17-11 during the regular season.
- The programs have met seven times in the NESCAC Tournament, with the Panthers boasting a 7-0 mark.
- Tanyr Krummenacher is second in the NESCAC in goals per game at 3.27. He leads the squad in both points (81) and goals (49), while ranking second with 32 helpers.
- Nicholas Kopp sits third in the conference in faceoff winning percentage (.564) and ground balls per game (7.73).
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
