The Middlebury field hockey team secured the #2 seed and will host a quarterfinal game in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament as a result of a 5-0 road victory Saturday at Bates. The third-ranked Panthers (13-1, 8-1), who posted their ninth-straight win and fifth-consecutive shutout, conclude the regular-season portion of their schedule with a 6:00 p.m. home game Wednesday with #20 Williams.

Annie Leonard struck first for Middlebury in the 12th minute on an assist from Grace Jennings. The assist for Jennings gives her a team-high 10 helpers.

Middlebury's third of eight penalty corners in the game resulted in a 2-0 lead in the 14th minute, as Lauren Berestecky fed Pam Schulman for her first tally. With about eight minutes remaining in the half, Schulman scored on a penalty stroke for her 13th goal of the season to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead at the halftime break.

Both teams were scoreless over a stretch of more than 34 minutes, but Leonard struck again in the 62nd minute, scoring on a reverse chip into the left corner for her team-leading 15th of the season. A minute and a half later, the Panthers made it 5-0 as Audrey Quirk assisted Susanna Baker on her second goal this fall.

Katie Knox played the first half with three saves, while Cristina Vega made one save for Bates in the second half. Emily Miller picked up the win in goal without having to record a save for her fifth shutout of the season.

Middlebury held a 13-1 shots advantage in the game as well as an 8-1 edge in penalty corners.