The Middlebury women's hockey team suffered its first NESCAC loss of the season, falling by a score of 2-0 at Hamilton (11-6, 5-4) on Friday night. The second-ranked Panthers (12-2-2, 7-1-1) will face the Continentals again on Saturday, this time with a 3:00 p.m. faceoff.

The first period was evenly played with the shots at 9-9 and neither team able to find the back of the net.

Middlebury turned up the pressure in the second period with a 9-4 shot advantage, but it was Hamilton who got on the board at the 16:45 mark. Kate Placenza made a nice pass from behind the net to Missy Segall, whose one-timer from the slot tumbled over the goal line after Panther netminder Lin Han got a piece of it.

Middlebury continued to threaten in the third period, but had a hard time solving Continental goaltender Sidney Molnar. Katie Hargrave had a good look at the 6:41 mark after a shot by Madie Leidt had been saved, but her rebound attempt hit the pipe. The guests went on the power play with 2:28 remaining and had a few chances, but were unable to score the equalizer.

Hamilton sealed the game a minute later, as Placenza found Segall in front for a shorthanded goal with 1:06 remaining, making it a 2-0 final.

Middlebury finished with a 29-20 shots advantage in the contest, as Han ended her night with 18 stops. Molnar made 29 saves to earn her first shutout of the season.

The shutout was the first suffered by the Panthers in 22 games, dating back to February of 2019.