Lauren Greer scored one goal and set up another to lead Middlebury to a 4-1 victory over Holy Cross in a non-conference women's hockey game Tuesday evening at Kenyon Arena. With the win, Middlebury (9-3-1) remains unbeaten this season at home at 6-0-1.
Greer tallied her fourth of the season 7:35 into the third period, converting a feed off a faceoff by Nora Bergman, to give the ninth-ranked Panthers (9-3-1) a commanding 3-0 advantage. Greer's nice pass set up rookie Sara Ugalde's team-leading fifth goal of the year at 15:31 of the final stanza to make it 4-0. Greer now has three goals and three assists this year, all coming in the last five games.
The two goals held off the Crusaders (10-6-0), who had a strong third period after being outshot 16-5 in the first 40 minutes. With 23 seconds to go, Alex Campione of Holy Cross ended the shutout bid by Middlebury goalie Alexi Bloom with a goal from the goal crease on a good second effort. HC's Kylee Sullivan and Jocelyn Kratchmer assisted on the tally.
Jamie Harisiades opened the scoring 4:32 into the contest as the Panthers cashed in on a turnover deep in the Crusaders zone. Just after a point-blank shot by Ugalde rang off the goal post, Holy Cross could not work the puck out and its clearing pass was picked off in the slot by Harisiades, who fired it past goaltender Monique Gallant (19 saves) for her third goal of the season.
The Panthers continued to control play in the middle period and a goal by Maggie Melberg, off a nice centering pass by Julia Ireland, made it 2-0 at 17:15. Heidi Woodworth also picked up an assist on Melberg's fourth goal of the campaign. Ireland, the Middlebury captain, added another assist in the third period.
Middlebury finished with a 23-15 edge in shots on goal and killed three Holy Cross power play bids. Bloom was busier in the final period stopping nine of 10 shots, including back-to-back shots by Rebecca O'Quinn and Stacey Hochkins early in the stanza.
The Panthers return to NESCAC action at Williams this Saturday at 7 p.m.. Middlebury then is back home to face New England College next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
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