Top-ranked Middlebury scored twice in each half, as the Panthers collected a 4-1 NESCAC victory over #17 Colby on Saturday. Middlebury (11-0, 7-0) is home again next Saturday for an 11:00 a.m. conference matchup with Trinity, while the Mules (7-3, 4-3) travel to St. Joseph's (Maine) on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

The visitors threatened early with two disallowed goals, while the Panthers had a pair of opportunities in the closing seconds. Middlebury's Erin Nicholas fired a shot from close range that Colby goalie Emily Buckman kicked away, before Middlebury's Marissa Baker was denied at the buzzer on a shot stemming from a penalty corner.

Each team got on the scoreboard in the second stanza, with the hosts breaking the ice with 1:21 expired. Nicholas side stepped a Mule defender and fired a shot inside the left post for a 1-0 lead. Colby drew even with 4:48 on the clock, as Kaitlyn Smith redirected a shot by Georgia Cassidy for her fourth tally of the campaign.

The hosts had a quick reply, as Nicholas tipped in a shot by Katie George at the left post just 35 seconds later. Middlebury carried that 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

In the third frame, the hosts increased their lead to 3-1 with 1:38 remaining. George took a pass on the left side and cut to the front of the net, before sliding a shot into the cage for her seventh of the fall. Colby later had a good opportunity to pull back within a goal, as Delaney Keithley flipped a shot that hit off of the crossbar.

In the fourth quarter, the Mules had an early chance by Keithley from the left side, but Panther goalie Grace Harlan made a nice pad save. The hosts closed out the scoring with 8:43 left in the contest, when Danielle Brown poked in a rebound on a shot by Baker.

Harlan notched the victory for Middlebury with three saves, while Buckman finished with seven stops for the visitors.

Middlebury held a 15-5 edge in shots, while doubling up the Mules in penalty corners (12-6).

The Panthers extended a pair of streaks with the win, now having won 18-straight overall and 28 at home dating back to the 2017 season.