Middlebury scored two first half goals and never looked back, on its way to a 2-0 win over Tufts in the opener for both squads. The 10th-ranked Panthers return to action on Wednesday when they host Keene, while M.I.T. will visit Tufts on the same day.

Tufts had a good look five minutes into the contest, but Alina Okamoto's shot was stopped by a save from Panther keeper Elizabeth Foody.

Middlebury took a 1-0 lead at the 14:33 mark when Moria Sloan scored from Claire Nishioka. Sloan took a pass from Nishioka on the left side before launching a high shot over the head of Tufts keeper Phoebe Hanley and into the far corner of the net.

Middlebury's Scarlett Kirk had a good look in the 25^th minute, but her shot missed just left. The Panthers took a 2-0 lead at 35:04, when Carter Talgo scored from inside that box after a quick touch pass from Hannah Newman.

Less than five minutes into the second half Kirk had another opportunity after a feed from Nishioka, but her shot hit the far post. Middlebury kept up the second half pressure with an 8-4 shots advantage (12-6 in the game), coming away with the shutout victory.

Foody finished with four saves to earn the victory, while Hanley (2 saves) and Kristin Wright (1 save) split time for the Jumbos.

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