Fifth-ranked Middlebury scored four goals in the opening 12:19 en route to a 4-1 season-opening NESCAC victory over 10th-ranked Amherst Sunday afternoon at Kohn Field. The Panthers return to action on Wednesday evening with a home match against St. Lawrence at 6:00 p.m., while Amherst hosts Mt. Holyoke on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.

The Panthers got on the board in the first minute. Annie Leonard collected a ball down the right side and sent a pass into the circle toward Pam Schulman. With defenders around her, Schulman sent a nifty one-touch into the bottom left corner of the Amherst goal. Just under three minutes later, Middlebury's Jillian Green dribbled down the right side of the field and made a move toward the middle of the field. Green sent a pass to a streaking Alyssa DiMaio who received it in front of the Lord Jeff goal and calmly tapped the ball in for what proved to be the game-winner.

The hosts kept up the pressure and made the score 3-0 at the 11:38 mark. Schulman sent a laser shot from 10 yards out that Amherst goalie Rachel Tannenbaum padded away. After a scramble in front following the initial save, Green sent a hard, low pass across the goal mouth to a waiting stick of Lauren Berestecky, who tapped it into the back of the goal.

Just 41 seconds later, Middlebury's Josie Trichka capped off the Panther scoring with an unassisted goal via a shot from the left side slicing into the middle of the field.

In the 14th minute, Amherst had a pair of scoring chances that were turned away. Madeline Tank laced a shot from the left side six yards out that Panther goalie Emily Knapp denied with her right pad. On the rebound, Caroline Feely collected the ball and immediately took a shot that Knapp again sent back toward the field.

At the 27:42 mark, Amherst got on the board after drawing a penalty corner. On the insertion pass, Annika Nygren blasted a shot that was redirected in front of the Middlebury goal by Tank for the score.

In the second half, scoring chances were hard to come by as Middlebury hung on for the 4-1 win.

Green paced the Panthers with a goal and an assist, while Schulman produced a game-best five shots. Elizabeth Turnbull led Amherst with four shots in the contest.

In goal, Knapp (1-0) collected five saves while allowing just one goal in the win. Tannenbaum (1-1) took the loss for Amherst with three goals allowed and a save in 11:38 of action, while Emily Horwitz allowed a goal in the final 58:22 with four saves.