For the second time in school history, the Middlebury College Field Hockey team will take part in the NCAA Championship game. The '98 champions earned the right with a 2-1 win over Cortland State in the semifinals of the tournament hosted by Lebanon Valley College. The Panthers will take on Salisbury, who was a 1-0 winner over The College of New Jersey, in the title game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Middlebury opened the scoring just 6:18 into the game with her team-leading 19th goal of the season from Char Glessner. The goal was scored as Channing Weymouth made a nice feed to Glessner from the top of the circle before she finished with a low shot for the goal. The game remained at 1-0 for the remainder of the half, with Middlebury holding a 6-2 shots advantage at the break.

The Red Dragons tied the game just 1:43 into the second half as Kelli Johnson scored on a rebound. Middlebury keeper Meg McGillen made the first save on a shot from Jessica Ueltschi, but the rebound came to Johnson who gathered it in before snapping a shot into the cage to tie the game at one. Middlebury was threatening later in the half, forcing a penalty corner. Ashley Pullen injected the ball to Abigail Lamb, who scored her 14th goal in eight games with a rocket from the outside at 23:03. The Panthers thought they had gained some breathing room later in the half, but an apparent goal by Lamb was waved off. Cortland's best chance to tie the game came with 11:22 left, but Johnson was unable to convert a crossing pass from just outside the cage. Middlebury came on strong after that, keeping Cortland State out of the area for the remainder of the game.

Middlebury held a 14-6 shots advantage in the game as well as a 12-8 edge in penalty corners. McGillen ended the game with four saves for Middlebury, while Jessica Anderson made eight stops for Cortland State.