The Middlebury field hockey team saw its hopes of claiming the NESCAC Championship come up short, falling to Tufts 3-1 on Sunday. The Panthers (14-4) were making their sixth-straight appearance in the conference championship game and 10th overall since the tournament began in 2000. With the win, the Jumbos (16-2) receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the Panthers, with three losses against teams ranked in the top 15, eye an at-large bid.

Tufts capitalized on an early penalty corner, taking a 1-0 lead 1:28 into the game. Nicole Arata put a pass right in front of the Panther net and Annie Artz lifted a high shot that eluded Middlebury goalie Emily Miller for a 1-0 lead.

The hosts were awarded another penalty corner nine minutes later and again took advantage. Arata released a shot from just inside the top of the arc and Mary Travers deflected the ball into the cage for a two-goal lead.

The Panthers had good chance to get on the scoreboard with 13:31 on the clock as Lauren Schweppe fired a shot from the right side with Kelly Coyle providing a screen in front, but Jumbo keeper Emily Polinski made the save.

Middlebury had a final chance to score in the in the half with a penalty corner as the clock expired. The Panthers were able to move the ball around in the circle before the Jumbo defense cleared the area, ending the opening stanza.

In the second half, Middlebury scored on its initial shot when Grace Jennings directed the ball back across the crease into the far corner of the net after taking a pass from Molly Freeman. The goal, her seventh of the season, came with 23:41 on the clock and extended her point streak to five-straight games.           

Miller kept the Panthers within goal just over a minute later when the Jumbos threatened. Arata got off a shot from close range, but Miller thwarted the scoring bid.

Tufts added an insurance goal with 5:34 remaining when Artz knocked the ball out of midair on an assist from Travers.

Miller finished with four saves for the Panthers, while Polinski had a pair for the Jumbos. Tufts held a 13-4 edge in shots and took seven of the game's eight penalty corners.