Middlebury Finishes Undefeated to Earn Tournament Top Seed

HADLEY, Mass. — Middlebury College finished regular season conference play undefeated and earned the top seed and a first round bye in the 2005 NESCAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The Panthers (9-0 NESCAC, 12-1 overall), who have won all four previous NESCAC tournaments and who have not lost a conference game in since the 2000 season, will host the semifinals and finals on Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8. First round games will begin Sunday, May 1 at 12:00 p.m. at the higher seeded institution.

With an overtime victory at third-ranked Amherst on the final day of the regular season, sixth ranked Bowdoin (7-2 NESCAC, 13-2 overall) earned the second seed in the upcoming tournament and will host seventh seeded Wesleyan (3-6 NESCAC, 7-7 overall). Bowdoin defeated the Cardinals 11-9 last weekend in Brunswick, Maine.

Amherst (7-2 NESCAC, 10-2 overall) will be the third seed and will host sixth seed Tufts (4-5 NESCAC, 8-6 overall). Tufts dropped an 8-7 decision to the Jeffs when the two teams met last Wednesday in Medford, Mass.

Fifth seed Williams (5-4 NESCAC, 10-4 overall) will travel to fourth seed Colby (6-3 NESCAC, 11-4 overall) in other first round action. Williams lost to Colby 9-8 the first game of the regular season on March 19th in Williamstown.

The top seven teams qualify for the NESCAC Championship. Predetermined tiebreaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical records. First round games will be played on Sunday, May 1 at 12:00 p.m. First round winners will advance to the semifinals at Middlebury on Saturday, May 7. Teams are rebracketed entering the semifinal round with number one seed Middlebury playing the lowest remaining seed. The NESCAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.

2005 NESCAC WOMEN’S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, May 1 at Higher Seeds
No. 7 Wesleyan at No. 2 Bowdoin - 12:00 p.m.
No. 6 Tufts at No. 3 Amherst - 12:00 p.m.
No. 5 Williams at No. 4 Colby - 12:00 p.m.

Semifinals - Saturday, May 7 at Middlebury
No. 1 Middlebury vs. lowest remaining seed - 12:00 p.m.
Remaining first round winners - 2:30 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, May 8 at Middlebury
Semifinal winners - 12:00 p.m