The Middlebury field hockey team improved to 10-3 on the season with a 2-0 victory at Rensselaer (7-7) Wednesday night on Harkness Field. The fifth-ranked Panthers return to NESCAC action on Saturday with an 11:00 a.m. contest against Bates on Kohn Field. Middlebury scored two goals in a four-minute span early in the second half on its way to the win.

Neither team found the back of the cage in the first half, despite the Panthers holding a 9-2 advantage in shots. The best scoring chance for the Panthers came from Grace Jennings, who had a shot from seven yards in front of the cage that was stopped by Kaufman.

The Engineers had opportunities of their own, including a near-miss on a deflection by a cutting Mikaela DiBello and a shot by Megan Jones that forced Middlebury's Emily Miller to make a lunging save to her left.

The Panthers needed just 1:02 of the second half to break the scoreless tie. Julia Richards carried the ball into the circle and sent a backhanded shot toward the goal. The ball was deflected to Kelly Coyle, who pushed the ball into the cage for her first career goal.
 
Lauren Schweppe nearly made it 2-0 when she drilled a shot on goal but Rensselaer goalkeeper Rachel Kaufman kicked it aside. The Panthers maintained pressure and ended up with a corner that led to a shot on goal that was saved by defender Mac Reininger. The rebound remained loose in the circle and was covered in the crease, leading to a penalty stroke. Junior Annie Leonard, Middlebury's leading scorer, converted the attempt, shooting into the upper-right corner of the goal with 29:12 left in the second half. The goal was her team-leading 18th of the year. 

The Engineers generated offensive chances, including a feed to the front of the net with three minutes remaining, but it was knocked away by a hustling Audrey Quirk. 

Miller finished with two saves to pick up the win and her fourth shutout of the year and 12th of her career, tying her for third in the program's history with Emily Knapp '15. Kaufman had five stops in front of the cage for the home team. The Panthers held a 15-5 edge in shots and a 7-1 advantage in penalty corners.