Middlebury scored a season-best 18 goals on 42 shots, topping Skidmore 18-10 in a non-league contest on Youngman Field at Alumni Stadium. The Panthers (7-6) have won all seven meetings against the Thoroughbreds (4-9). Both teams return to league play on Saturday as Middlebury travels to Colby for a NESCAC tilt, while Skidmore visits R.I.T. in a Liberty League contest.

Middlebury opened the game with a 3-0 run, capped by a man-up tally by Brian Ayers at 7:13. Ayers goal was set-up on a great crease feed from Jack Rautiola, as he finished with a game-high four helpers. Skidmore closed out the first quarter with a pair of unsettled goals, including a score by Brock Bakewell off an assist by Kevin Mulvey.

The Panthers rattled off four-straight goals in the second quarter for a 7-2 lead they took into intermission. David Murray bookended a pair of goals around a Darric White tally at 11:22, as the long-stick defender netted a bounce shot in transition from a feed by Rautiola. Murray assisted on the final goal of the quarter, setting up Jon Broome for a doorstep tally.

Mulvey sandwiched a pair of goals around a Panther score to open the third quarter before Rautiola and Ayers flipped roles from their first connection, setting the score at 9-4 with 11:01 left. Mulvey and Bakewell scored the next two goals in 59 seconds, quickly tightening the game to 9-6.

Middlebury earned some breathing room as an Ayers shot at 7:21 dribbled into the net after hitting Skidmore starting goalie Matt Diaco. The Panthers made it an 11-6 game four minutes later when Broome collected a Todd Bratches feed for a man-up goal.

After Skidmore scored the last goal of the third quarter, the Panthers ran away in the fourth, scoring six-straight goals for a commanding 17-7 lead. Murray netted his hat-trick to start the run at 14:01 off a remarkable behind-the-back doorstep feed from White's long-stick. Broome scored the next two on a pair of lefty dodges for a 14-7 lead with 8:19 left. After taking a 16-7 lead with 6:19 left to play, Harrison Goodkind capped the run, scoring eight seconds after winning his own face-off.

The teams exchanged goals, before Skidmore netted the last two, setting the final score at 18-10.

Broome, Rautiola and Murray each chipped in with five points to pace Middlebury. Broome finished with four goals and an assist, while Rautiola reversed Broome with a goal and four helpers. Murray ended the day with three goals and two set-ups. Goodkind finished with a goal, a game-best six groundballs and won 9-17 face-offs. Nate Gaudio earned the win in net, allowing seven of Skidmore's 10 goals, while stopping five shots in 53:49. Reserve Gabe Weissmann played the final 6:11, making one save.

Mulvey led all scorers with four goals and two assists. Josh Trachtenberg added two goals and an assist, as Bakewell finished with two scores. Taylor Best grabbed four groundballs while winning 13-24 face-offs. Diaco played the opening 53:34 in goal, making 10 saves while allowing all 18 scores. Bennett Beutel finished the game in net, making three saves in the final 4:26.