Top-ranked Middlebury improved to 7-0 on the season with a 3-0 win over Skidmore (3-5) Tuesday night on Kohn Field. The shutout is the fifth of the season for the Panthers, who improve their home winning streak to 26 games. Middlebury returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Connecticut College at 11:00 a.m., while the Thoroughbreds open Liberty League play when they travel to St. Lawrence the same day.

Middlebury wasted little time getting on the board, taking a 1-0 lead just 2:26 into the game. Marissa Baker sent a shot toward goal that Erin Nicholas knocked into the left side for her fourth of the season. The Panthers had another chance minutes later on a penalty corner, but Skidmore keeper Jess Gaetgens made a nice stop on Nicholas. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead into the half with a 6-0 shots advantage.

Middlebury made it a 2-0 game at the 10:42 mark of the third quarter when Danielle Brown scored on a rebound after an initial shot from Nicholas was saved. The tally was the third of the year for Brown. Nicholas nearly struck again late in the frame, but her shot in transition went wide left. The Panthers ended the quarter with four-straight penalty corners with time expired, but were unable to add to the lead.

The lead grew to 3-0 just 1:58 into the fourth quarter with a goal on a penalty corner. Nicholas sent the ball into a crowd on the right side, where Alison Denby knocked it home for her second of the season.

Middlebury finished the contest with 16-0 advantage in both shots and penalty corners. Grace Harlan was not forced to make a save in her fifth shutout of the season, while Gaetgens made nine stops for the visitors.