Middlebury handed sixth-ranked Amherst (8-0-1, 4-0-1) its first blemish of the year on its schedule, as the eighth-ranked Panthers earned a 2-2 NESCAC road tie at Orr Rink on Friday night. Middlebury (5-2-2, 3-0-2) returns to action against the Purple and White on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in game two of the series.

After a scoreless first period, Middlebury took a 1-0 lead 4:04 into the second of the period when Maddie Winslow scored her team-leading fourth of the season. Shanna Hickman earned the assist as Winslow buried a rebound from the right side.

Amherst tied the game just over a minute later (5:20) when Katelyn Pantera converted a feed from Katie Savage for a power-play goal.

The Purple and White grabbed a one-goal lead (2-1) later in the period when Sara Culhane took advantage of a turnover and scored on a three-on-one situation.

The Panthers tied the game early in the third with the first of the season from Allie Aiello. Haley LaFontaine sent in a shot from the side that was tipped into the back of the net to even the score at 2-2 with 16:58 remaining.

Middlebury outshot Amherst 30-22 in the game as Julia Neuburger made 22 saves between the pipes for the visitors. Sabrina Dobbins finished with 30 stops for Amherst.