The Middlebury College field hockey team saw its season come to an end as they fell 2-1 on penalty strokes to Springfield. The NCAA Regional game was played at Bowdoin, with the host school advancing to meet Springfield in the regional final on Sunday. The Panthers finish the season with a 14-4 record.

The Pride got on the board first with a goal less than eight minutes into the game. The tally came off a penalty corner chance, as Eileen Jenkins played a ball to Erin Bosch, who stopped it for Jaclyn Galligan. Galligan ripped a shot from the top of the circle to the back of the goal for a 1-0 lead with 27:45 remaining in the opening frame.

Springfield maintained their one-goal lead into the second period, where Middlebury evened the score early in the half. A loose ball in the circle came to the stick of Nina Daugherty, who slapped it into the goal to even the game with 31:24 remaining. Neither team could find the game-winner and the contest headed into overtime.

Middlebury had the best chance to end the game in overtime, as Reid Berrien collected a ball at midfield and had a breakaway chance. An attempt to slide the ball past Springfield goaltender Emma Kaplan failed, as the sophomore netminder made a sliding pad-save to keep the game deadlocked. Following two scoreless extra sessions, the game advanced to penalty strokes.

The penalty stroke session was over quickly, as the visiting Panthers missed on their first three chances. The Pride scored on their first three tries, including the game-winner to the bottom right of the cage from Sarah Brooker to clinch the victory. Kaplan was sensational in net for Springfield, keeping her team in the game with 21 saves. Middlebury, who did not convert on a dozen penalty corner chances, received 10 stops from netminder Meghan McGillen.

-- courtesy Bowdoin --