Wendler lauded as leader at Skidmore

Maynard High graduate Leila Wendler capped her final season on the women's soccer team at Skidmore College as a team captain and a slot as a second-team Liberty League all-star.

She had anchored a defense that ranked among the nation's best in Division 3, with just eight goals allowed in 22 games, an 0.35 average. Skidmore finished 13-4-5 this fall and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1996. The Thoroughbreds played to a 0-0 overtime tie in the opening round against Western Connecticut State, but lost, 5-4, on penalty kicks.

A soccer and track athlete at Maynard High, Wendler had started for Skidmore's soccer squad since her freshman year, and played in 78 games in her collegiate career. "Leila was a key communicator on a very young back line," said Skidmore coach Sarah Cooper. "She helped us with her aggressive play and dominance in the air."

Wendler also rows for Skidmore, and was a member of the college's nationally ranked varsity eight boat last spring. She is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection and this year earned a spot on ESPN the magazine's All-Academic District 1 first team.

The Skidmore women's soccer team also included senior forward Laura Flynn of Wellesley and sophomore midfielders Kate Ito of Hopkinton and Dana Brill of Newton.

Endicott College freshman running back Mike Lane of Medfield came on strong over the final five games of the season. He totaled 237 yards and scored twice in the team's finale, a 39-18 win over host MIT. Lane led the 3-7 Gulls in rushing with 698 yards on 89 attempts and five touchdowns. The 5-foot-7, 170-pound Lane added eight receptions for 174 yards and two more scores. His seven TDs were a team high.

A Globe All-Scholastic in high school, Lane led Medfield to the 2006 Division 3 Super Bowl championship his senior year when he scored four TDs in a 28-22 victory over Whittier Regional, and was honored as the Tri-Valley League Player of the Year. He rushed for 4,029 career yards with 52 touchdowns for Medfield.

Lane, who spent a prep year at Worcester Academy, was joined in the Endicott starting lineup by senior John Maxwell, an offensive lineman and Needham High graduate, and junior captain and defensive lineman Rob Brandt, a former Natick High MVP. Freshman Taylor Allen, son of the late Boston University and Holy Cross head coach Dan Allen and a graduate of Westborough High, was a special teams standout and the team's long snapper and backup tight end.

"Mike was the most exciting freshman in the New England Football Conference. He gives the credit to everyone but himself and will outwork everyone else on the field," said coach J.B. Wells. "John is a smart player who understood technique and schemes and used them to his advantage; Rob is tough, tenacious, and a great leader; and Taylor is a super-athletic player."

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology women's ice hockey team, winner of just one game a year ago, equaled that total in its opening game this season with the help of senior captain Stephanie Brenman of Newton and sophomore Connie Lu of Sudbury.

The Engineers defeated New England College, 3-2, for the first opening-game win in program history. Brenman scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, while Lu helped make first-year head coach Rick Chrisciel's debut a success with a goal and an assist.

The Westboro Tennis and Swim Club will host a swimming clinic on Saturday from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. The club's second Mutual of Omaha Breakout! event, the clinic will feature Olympic gold medalists Aaron Peirsol and Ed Moses. Each participant will meet and train with the Olympian and learn performance techniques.

The club still has openings available for observers; the fee of $50 includes lunch, a photo and autograph session, T-shirt, poster, and DVD. For information, call 508-366-1222.

Dean College's football team finished its regular season at 10-0 and won its second consecutive Northeast Football Conference title to earn a postseason berth.

Ranked 10th by the National Junior College Athletic Association, Dean was defeated, 20-10, by 17th-ranked Iowa Central Community College on Sunday in the Graphic Edge Bowl, played at the University of Northern Iowa.

The Franklin school's squad is 19-2 over the past two seasons.

Contact Marvin Pave at 508-820- 4223 or marvin.pave@rcn.com.