Box Score Chrissy Ritter provided a big spark off the bench, notching her first goal of the season with an assist to lead visiting Middlebury to a 3-1 win over Wesleyan (5-8, 3-6) on Saturday afternoon. The fourth-ranked Panthers (12-2, 8-2) have clinched at least the fourth seed for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament and will host a quarterfinal game next Saturday.
Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead with 12:42 left in the first half on a goal by Amber Bruckner when she redirected a long crossing pass from fellow Ingraham for her sixth goal of the season.
Middlebury tied the game with no time on the clock at the end of the first half on a penalty corner as time expired. Off the corner, Bridget Instrum blasted a shot at Wesleyan goalie Sara Grundy, who kicked it aside. Catherine Fowler was there to clean up the rebound and knocked in her 17th goal of the season.
Middlebury used a couple of fresh legs to take a 2-1 lead with 23:07 remaining. Ritter and Hannah Deoul had both just subbed into the game when Ritter found Deoul in front for her third goal of the season.
The Panthers got an insurance goal with 16:29 left when Ritter scored her first of the season after a pass from Alyssa DiMaio.
Middlebury outshot Wesleyan 11-1, with a 10-3 advantage in penalty corners. Emily Knapp made one save in goal to earn the win, while Sara Grundy made eight stops for the Cardinals.
