The second-ranked Middlebury women's hockey team scored a pair of goals 43 seconds apart to erase a one-goal deficit, as the Panthers edged #5 Elmira 2-1 on Saturday in the opening round of the Panther/Cardinal Classic. Middlebury (4-0) faces ninth-ranked Endicott in the title game on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Endicott advanced to the final with a 4-3 overtime win against top-ranked and host Plattsburgh State.

The loss was the first of the season for the Soaring Eagles (7-1), who saw their 14-game winning streak end.

Elmira had a pair of scoring chances in the opening minutes of the contest with Eliza Beaudin eluding the Middlebury defense. She got off a shot from close range that Panther goalie Sophia Merageas turned aside. Seconds later, Merageas made another stop, this time denying Emma Crocker. Middlebury had the lone power play in the opening 20 minutes, as Madie Leidt had the best opportunity with a shot from the left circle that Soaring Eagle goalie Leonie Kuehberger corralled.

The scoring started in the second frame, with Elmira striking first. Mary McCafferty's bid from the left circle hit off a defender's stick and eluded Merageas for a 1-0 lead for Soaring Eagles. The goal came with 9:32 expired, ending Middlebury's streak of not allowing a goal to start the season at 209:32.

The Panthers used a quick-strike offense minutes later to jump into the lead, tallying a pair of goals in a span of 43 seconds. Kylie Quinlan tied the game with a shot from the left side for her first collegiate marker at the 15:56 mark. Jenna Letterie set up the go-ahead score, winning the puck behind the net and setting up Leidt for a shot from the top of the blue paint. Kuehberger made the save, but Leidt tucked in the rebound while falling to the ice for Middlebury's first lead of the contest.

Both teams had scoring chances in the early stages of the third stanza, as Leidt hit the post on a bid for the Panthers, while Beaudin was denied by Merageas on a 2-on-1 break. Merageas preserved the win with 14 seconds remaining, sliding to her right to thwart a final bid by Beaudin.

Merageas stopped 29-30 shots for her second win of the season, while Kuehberger registered 32 saves for the Soaring Eagles.

Middlebury held a 34-30 edge in shots and came up empty on four power plays, while Elmira tallied once on two chances with a player advantage.