The top-ranked Middlebury field hockey team (10-0, 5-0) extended its home win streak to 41 on Sunday, defeating #6 Amherst 3-1. The Panthers are now the only NESCAC team with an unblemished record and are sporting an 18-game win-streak. Middlebury will complete its regular season home-game schedule next weekend when it hosts Bates on Saturday at noon, before celebrating senior day on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. meeting against #3 Tufts. The Mammoths (7-2, 3-2) travel to Wesleyan Saturday for an 11:00 a.m. start.
The Panthers got off to a quick start, scoring just 3:39 into the first quarter after a penalty corner by
Isabel Chandler.
Amy Griffin stopped the insert, before passing the ball to
Grace Murphy, who found the bottom left corner for the 1-0 edge. Middlebury increased its lead with 11:08 expired when
Audrey Lazar tipped-in an initial bid by
Caroline Segal to make it 2-0.
Amherst looked to get on the board early in the second stanza after a penalty corner at the 17:17 mark. The Mammoths worked the ball around the circle before Abbey Kays lofted a shot from the right side towards the far post, but a Middlebury defender was there to clear the ball away.
Out of the intermission, Kays had another great chance to score for Amherst after a penalty corner, but her hard shot at the 37:04 mark was blocked by
Charlotte Marks. The Panthers made it 3-0 with 39:10 expired when Lazar redirected a shot by Segal for her second tally of the game.
In the fourth quarter, the Mammoths broke up the shutout. Beth Williamson sent a sweeping shot towards the goal at the 48:19 mark, but Middlebury goalie
Grace Harlan kicked it away. A penalty stroke was called just six seconds later and Kat Mason converted the chance, lofting the ball into the upper right corner to make it 3-1. Amherst turned up the pressure in the final five minutes of play, with a great chance to cut the deficit to one at the 55:21 mark. Williamson wound up and hit a hard shot towards the goal, but Middlebury's Harlan came charging off her line to deny the chance and keep the final score at 3-1.
The Panthers held a 19-11 advantage in shots, while the Mammoths had a 13-10 edge in penalty corners. Harlan earned the win in goal making three saves, while Broda made six stops for Amherst.
