Middlebury broke through for three goals over a 12-minute stretch late in the second half en route to a 3-0 road shutout of NESCAC foe Wesleyan on Smith Field. The third-ranked Panthers (10-1, 6-1) return to action next Saturday when they host Trinity at 2:00 p.m.

The teams played a scoreless first half as Middlebury controlled most of the action. The Panthers tallied nine first-half shots, as seven were turned away by Cardinal goalie Sarah Grundy. Wesleyan generated four penalty corners, but the hosts were only able to register one first-half shot.

Middlebury kept the pressure on in the second half and forced a penalty stroke in the 43rd minute, but Grundy turned away the scoring attempt by Pam Schulman with her blocker on a high shot headed toward the right corner. 

The Panthers broke the scoreless tie at 56:45 when Annie Leonard fed Shannon Hutteman for her third goal of the season. Leonard made the score 2-0 in favor of Middlebury when she tallied an unassisted goal for her 10th of the season at 65:07.

Middlebury's final tally came a little more than three minutes later at 68:44. Bridget Instrum beat Grundy to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage.

Middlebury held an advantage in shots (31-1) and penalty corners (16-5). Middlebury goalie Emily Miller needed just one save to improve to 9-1 for the season, while Grundy was credited with 24 stops for Wesleyan.