Middlebury took game one of a home-and-home series with Williams, topping the Ephs 4-1 in Kenyon Arena. The two teams will meet again on Sunday with a 4:00 p.m. start at Williams. The Panthers move to 14-5-2, 11-2-2 in the NESCAC, while the Ephs fall to 8-12-1, 4-8-1 in NESCAC play. With the win, Middlebury extends its Kenyon Arena unbeaten streak against NESCAC rivals to 24 games (22-0-2) dating back to a 4-2 loss to Bowdoin on February 19th of 2010.
After heavy pressure in the first stanza, the Panthers opened the scoring at 13:03 when Lauren Greer tipped home a rebound off a shot by Emily Fluke for her seventh goal of the season. Kate Moreau started the play on a shot from the point that was redirected by Fluke and then Greer, before hitting the back of the net. Hannah Bielawski added a power play goal later in the period rapping home a rebound of a shot by Fluke. Greer, who centered the pass to Fluke, also picked up an assist.
Just 1:10 into the second, Middlebury made it 3-0 when Madeline Joyce redirected Julia Wardwell's drive from the point for her fourth of the season.
Middlebury made it a 4-0 game 2:16 into the third period when Mackenzie Martin broke in all alone and netted her fourth of the year. Williams broke up the shutout at the 7:03 mark when Gabrielle Vukasin circled the net and found Sam Weinstein for a power play goal. The tally was the fifth of the year for Weinstein.
Middlebury held a 35-18 shots advantage in the game, as Annabelle Jones made 17 saves between the pipes to earn the win. Rachel Nguyen made 31 stops for the Ephs.
Box Score
