The top-ranked Middlebury field hockey team improved its record to 9-0 with a 2-1 road win at Amherst (5-4, 1-4) on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers return to action next Saturday with a NESCAC contest at Bates.

Middlebury took a 1-0 lead just 4:59 into the game. After a penalty corner, the ball found its way back to the near post where Meg Fearey had inserted. A pass deflected off the stick of Grace Murphy, and to Fearey, who netted her third of the year.

The lead remained at 1-0 until the third quarter when Emma Johns made it a 2-0 contest 7:44 in. Erin Nicholas' reverse-stick shot deflected high into the air, before Johns knocked it into the back of the cage.

Nicholas nearly made it a 3-0 game with 3:09 remaining in the quarter, but her shot hit the crossbar.

Amherst got on the board moments later, when Kiera Alventosa's shot from the right side deflected off a defender and into the far side of the net.

The Panther defense did not allow a shot in the fourth quarter, coming away with the 2-1 victory.

Middlebury finished the contest with a 19-5 lead in shots and a 14-6 edge in penalty corners.

Grace Harlan was forced to make just one save in goal, while Emilie Flamme made nine stops for the hosts.