The second-ranked Middlebury women's hockey team scored a pair of goals in the third period on its way to a 2-1 triumph over #9 Endicott (7-2) on Sunday in the title game of the Panther/Cardinal Classic. The Panthers (5-0) return to NESCAC play on Friday at Amherst with a 7:00 p.m. start.

Middlebury forward Madie Leidt was named the tournament's most valuable player, while Jenna Letterie, Eva Hendrikson and Claudia Vira each earned spots on the all-tournament team.

In the consolation game, fifth-ranked Elmira topped #1 Plattsburgh State 4-3 in overtime.

The Panthers had a strong opening 20 minutes, finishing the frame with a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Defender Cece Ziegler got a pair of quality scoring chances pinching in from the point. She fired a shot from the left circle that Gull goalie Michaela O'Brien turned, but Ziegler tracked down the rebound in the far circle and got off another attempt. With less than eight minutes on the clock, Vira fired a shot from the high slot that O'Brien got a glove on, with the rebound rolling just wide of the right post.

Endicott struck early in the second period, scoring on the opening shift. Courtney Sullivan knocked down a Middlebury clearing attempt and centered a pass to Quin Healy in the slot, who tallied from the right side of the crease with 17 seconds expired. The Panthers had a power play starting at the 7:03 mark and generated a number of shots. O'Brien made a save on an attempt by Vira from the point and Maddie Bayard from the side of the paint, while the Gull defense blocked four additional Middlebury chances.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard early in the final frame, knotting the game at the 1:09 mark. Cat Appleyard's attempt from the left circle hit off the shin pad of an Endicott defender and slipped behind O'Brien. Middlebury took its first lead of the game only seconds after the Gulls had taken a timeout. Leidt won the faceoff in the Endicott zone, went to the slot and deflected in a shot by Vira for her 50th career tally. The goal came with 9:59 on the clock.

Sophia Merageas made her only two stops in the final stanza in the closing seconds, denying Meaghan Francis on a pair of bids to preserve the win.

Middlebury held a decisive 36-6 advantage in shots with Merageas finishing with five saves, while O'Brien had 34 stops for the Gulls.

Endicott entered the game with an impressive power-play efficiency of 42.9 percent, but the Panthers muted all three attempts by the Gulls. Middlebury was 0-1 with the advantage.