Second-ranked Middlebury opened the weekend by defeating Colby (9-3-2, 5-1-1) 3-0 in game one of a NESCAC series in Kenyon Arena. The Panthers (11-1-2, 6-0-1) and Mules are back at it on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

Middlebury opened the scoring just 3:38 into the game with a power-play goal. Jenna Letterie cleaned up a rebound, after an initial shot by Madie Leidt had been saved, earning her seventh of the year. After killing a penalty midway through the period, the Panthers nearly struck again, but Colby netminder Nina Prunster made a quick pad save on Morgan Griffith's bid from point-blank range.

The Panthers made it a 2-0 game 9:46 into the second period with a four-on-four goal. Letterie fed Alexis Ryan, who's shot from the top of the zone breezed past a screened Prunster for her second of the year.

Middlebury goaltender Lin Han kept it a 2-0 game in the third by flashing her right pad on a backhanded attempt by Cindy Giandomenico 4:30 into the final stanza. The Mules put on a lot of pressure during a power play that began at 6:20, but Han and the Panther defense stood its ground.

The Panthers added an insurance tally at the 9:32 mark with a five-on-three power-play goal. Eva Hendrikson fed Leidt at the left faceoff dot, before Leidt snapped a shot into the far side of the net for the 3-0 final.       

Middlebury held a 26-21 shots advantage in the game as Han earned her 15th-career shutout with 21 stops. The Panthers were 2-7 on the power play, while holding the Mules scoreless on four attempts.