The Middlebury College field hockey team advanced to the NCAA Regional finals with a 3-2 win over Tufts in a game played at Ursinus. The Panthers (13-4) will take on the host school on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with a trip to the final four on the line. Tufts finishes its season with a 15-3 mark, including a 3-0 win over Middlebury in the season-opener for both teams on September 11th.
The Jumbos finished with a 28-7 advantage in shots over Middlebury, and 21-5 in penalty corners. However, the Panthers were opportunistic offensively and received 10 saves from goalie Becca Shaw, including eight in the first half.
Tufts took an early 1-0 advantage when Lia Sagerman tipped in a drive by Jess Perkins 9:26 into the action. That was the first of four first-half goals in the game.
Middlebury evened the score with a similar goal, as Hannah Clarke tipped in a pass from Lauren Greer about six minutes after the Tufts goal at 15:44.
Tufts had a chance to take a 2-1 lead at 25:37 with a penalty stroke attempt, but Middlebury's Madeline Brooks came off the bench to deny Tamara Brown and keep it a 1-1 game.
The Jumbos went back in front in the 27th minute of action when Lindsay Griffith converted a pass from Sarah Cannon. However, the Panthers capped the first-half by scoring with 22 seconds left when Charlotte Gardiner tallied with another assist by Greer as the duo capitalized on a two-on-one break.
Greer then scored the eventual game-winner at 47:06 on a penalty corner opportunity. Clara St. Germain inserted, Margaret Souther controlled the ball, and Greer scored with a drive from the top of the circle. The tally was her-team leading 20th of the season.
Tufts had eight shots, including three on goal, after the Middlebury go-ahead goal, and eight corners as well. The Panthers held tight and picked up the win, as Shaw finished with 10 saves in goal.
BOX SCORE
