The NCAA News - News and Features

May 26, 1997

Stellar defensive effort lifts Panthers to III championship

Middlebury, behind a defense that held defending champion College of New Jersey scoreless for more than 26 minutes, claimed its first Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship May 18 with a 14-9 victory at Lehigh.

"This was a great game and a great team effort," said Panthers coach Missy Foote. "We knew that our defense would win the game and that we would have to maintain our pace."

Middlebury grabbed a 3-0 lead in the opening minutes and never trailed against the Lions, who had not lost a tournament game on the field since 1990 (their 1992 championship was vacated). The Lions entered the game having completed their sixth straight undefeated regular season.

After leading, 8-7, at halftime, Middlebury scored the first six goals of the second half to take a commanding 14-7 lead with 14 minutes left.

"We lost to New Jersey in the tournament for three years (including last year's 15-8 loss in the final)," said Panthers senior Amy DiAdamo, the school's all-time leading scorer. "This is what we've worked for."

DiAdamo led all scorers with six goals and an assist. Amity Wall had three goals, while Heidi Dripps and Whitney Parks had two apiece.

The Lions, who finished 14-1, were led by Megan Tropp, who had three goals and an assist. Melanie Vasofski and Jessica McCourt had two each.

In the semifinals the day before, College of New Jersey hinted that it might be primed for another title by routing William Smith, 20-6, behind nine goals from Vasofski. That performance left the Lions' star one goal shy of the tournament single-game record set by Goucher's Courtney Crangi last year. William Smith fell to 14-2.

In the other semifinal, Middlebury showed the defense that would key its championship victory, trouncing Johns Hopkins, 20-6. The Blue Jays finished the season 12-4.

Middlebury finished the season 16-1.

Middlebury attackers DiAdamo and Parks made the all-tournament team. Also honored were Panthers midfielders Wall and Liz Aybar. From the Middlebury defense, Missy Hopkins and goalkeeper Emily Bracken (who had 13 saves in the title game) were named. Lions honorees were Vasofski, Tropp, McCourt, Donna Pecoraro and Jennifer Maholland. Also named to the team were Laura Kidney of William Smith and Johns Hopkins' Danielle Maschuci.

SEMIFINALS

Middlebury -- 11 -- 9 -- 20

Johns Hopkins -- 3 -- 3 -- 6

Middlebury scoring: Amy DiAdamo 5, Amity Wall 5, Whitney Parks 3, Katherine Rodormer 2, Liz Aybar 2, Wendy Hession 1, Heidi Dripps 1, Lina Chickering 1.

Johns Hopkins scoring: Danielle Maschuci 2, Kate Heritage 1, Neda Dawood 1, Mary Ann McGuire 1, Laurie Better 1.

Shots: Middlebury 48, Johns Hopkins 37. Saves: Middlebury -- Emily Bracken 14; Johns Hopkins -- Anita Patibandla 14.

Col. of New Jersey -- 12 -- 8 -- 20

William Smith -- 1 -- 5 -- 6

Col. of New Jersey scoring: Melanie Vasofski 9, Fran Constantine 3, Tracy Purtell 2, Emily Fellona 2, Donna Pecoraro 1, Jennifer Maholland 1, Megan Tropp 1, Jessica McCourt 1.

William Smith scoring: Lauren Kidney 3, Lisa Krug 2, Wendy Walker 1.

Shots: Col. of New Jersey 43, William Smith 34. Saves: Col. of New Jersey -- Heather Whalin 16; William Smith -- Alice Hadden 8, Leslie Khachadourian 5.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Middlebury -- 8 -- 6 -- 14

Col. of New Jersey -- 7 -- 2 -- 9

Middlebury scoring: Amy DiAdamo 6, Amity Wall 3, Heidi Dripps 2, Whitney Parks 2, Heidi Howard 1.

Col. of New Jersey: Megan Tropp 3, Melanie Vasofski 2, Jessica McCourt 2, Tracey Purtell 1, Fran Constanine 1.

Shots: Middlebury 30, Col. of New Jersey 30. Saves: Middlebury -- Emily Bracken 13; Col. of New Jersey -- Heather Whalin 11.