Middlebury picked up a 3-0 win over Bates in a NESCAC Tournament first-round game played on Kohn Field. The Panthers advance to the NESCAC semifinals next weekend and will take on Williams at 1:30 p.m. on the campus of Bowdoin College. The host school will meet Wesleyan in the other semifinal at 11:00 a.m. The winners meet for the NESCAC Championship at noon on Sunday.

Middlebury took a 1-0 lead just 1:02 in the game as they scored on their first offensive possession. Allison Smith sent the ball into the circle where Reid Berrien quickly tipped it into the back of the cage. The Panthers had a chance to double their lead at the 31:05 mark, but a penalty stroke by Channing Weymouth missed the goal.

Middlebury did make it a 2-0 game at the 23:01 mark, as Ashley Lyddane wasted little time in scoring after returning from an early season injury. Following a penalty corner, the senior deflected in a shot from the top of the circle by Smith to make it a 2-0 game. The lead grew to 3-0 with 20:09 remaining in the second half as a quick pass from Weymouth to Berrien set up her hard shot into the back corner of the goal.

Middlebury ended the game with a 17-9 shots advantage, while Bates held a 9-7 edge in penalty corners. Meghan McGillen ended the game with six saves to earn the win, while Sarah Judice made 10 saves for Bates.