Middlebury's Bridget Instrum scored 1:48 into overtime,  lifting the Panther women's lacrosse team to an 8-7 NESCAC victory over #9 Amherst on Saturday in Massachusetts. The second-ranked Panthers (9-0, 5-0) continue conference play on Wednesday, hosting 12th-ranked Hamilton at 5:00 p.m., while Amherst (5-2, 2-2) faces Wesleyan on the same day.

Middlebury got on the scoreboard first when Instrum tallied an unassisted goal 5:12 into the contest. Back-to-back goals by Claire Cagnassola propelled Amherst into the lead at 2-1 with 16:34 remaining.

The visitors tied the game on a free-position shot by Instrum, but the Purple & White jumped back in front (3-2) on a goal by Mia Haughton with 7:32 showing on the clock. Middlebury needed only 41 seconds to pull even, as Laurel Pascal scored to pull the Panthers back to all square at 3-3.

Haughton added her second goal of the game with 53 seconds remaining in the first half, giving Amherst a slight 4-3 advantage at the intermission.

In the second half, the teams traded early free-position goals with Cagnassola scoring for Amherst and Pascal for the Panthers. Pascal's goal came when Middlebury enjoyed an extra-player opportunity.

The hosts went up by a 6-4 count on a marker by Cagnassola, but Emma McDonagh and Hollis Perticone tallied scores for the Panthers to tie the score at 6-6 with 14:25 left.

Haughton put the Purple & While back in front via a goal two minutes later, but Megan Griffin answered with a feed from Sara DiCenso to deadlock the score (7-7) again.

Amherst called a time out with 3:25 left and maintained possession looking for a last-second shot. Middlebury's Evie Keating came up with a huge defensive play in the final minute, creating a turnover followed by Chrissy Ritter collecting the ground ball. A successful clear gave the Panthers a chance to win the game in the waning seconds, but Instrum was denied on a free-position shot with six seconds left in regulation by Amherst goalie Christy Forrest.

In overtime, Alli Sciarretta won the initial draw control in what proved to be the only possession of the extra frame. Instrum netted the game-winner when she beat her defender and used a high shot to keep Middlebury undefeated.

Instrum led the Panthers with three goals, while Pascal added a pair of tallies and five draw controls. Pascal reached the 150-career goal plateau with the first of her two goals, and the senior now has accumulated 151 as a Panther. Ritter had an active game with a pair of caused turnovers and three ground balls. Katie Mandigo earned the win in goal, finishing with six saves.

Cagnassola led all players with four goals and one assist, while Haughton netted three goals. Forrest recorded a game-high 15 saves and added six ground balls in the crease.

Middlebury held a 27-14 advantage in shots and also won the battle of draw controls, 12-5.