No. 6 Middlebury Fends Off No. 9 Babson
from staff reports
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury won its home-opener
on Kohn Field as they held off Babson for an 11-8 win on Kohn
Field. The Panthers led 8-2 at the half and then saw the Beavers
make a run, cutting the lead to a pair late in the game. Middlebury
returns to action on Tuesday when they host Wesleyan.
Trailing 1-0, Middlebury ran off five straight first half goals to
take a 5-1 lead with 10:27 remaining. Sally Ryan and Elizabeth
Garry each scored twice during the run, while Ryan assisted on a
goal. Babson answered with a goal from Anna Collins, before the
Panthers closed the first half with three free position goals in
:59 seconds to take an 8-2 lead into the intermission. Ryan scored
her third of the game to begin the spurt, while Dana Heritage
netted the next two.
Babson opened the second half with three straight goals, including
the third of the game from Anna Collins to make it an 8-5 game with
19:27 remaining. Heritage ended the run for the Panthers, before
the Beavers cut the lead to 9-6 on a tally from Jackie Godfrey at
the 13:44 mark. Middlebury answered before Lindsay Bucci and Trisha
Babson cut the lead to 10-8 with 5:58 left to play.
Babson had a chance to make it a one-goal game with 3:25 left, but
a free position shot was denied by Blair Bowie. The Panthers gained
some breathing room on a goal from Taylor Brown with 2:04 left to
play, making it an 11-8 final.
Ryan and Heritage each scored three goals in the win, while Garry
added a pair. Collins netted three to pace the Beavers. Bowie made
seven saves in goal to earn the win, while Sarah Macary made 11
stops for Babson.
