Top-ranked Middlebury (2-0, 1-0) opened NESCAC play with a 6-0 triumph over visiting Wesleyan (1-1, 0-1) on Saturday. The victory extended the team's home-winning streak to 37-straight games. The Panthers are right back in action on Sunday, hosting the University of New England at 1:00 p.m., while the Cardinals remain on the road with a 7:00 p.m. contest at Mount Holyoke on Wednesday.

Middlebury got off to fast start, scoring on the game's initial shot 4:20 into contest. Grace Murphy capped off a penalty corner with a shot from the top of the circle, with assists going to Amy Griffin on the stop and Isabel Chandler on the insert. The Panthers added to their lead later in the frame, scoring a pair of goals in 41 seconds. Caroline Segal knocked in a cross from Erin Nicholas with 4:25 on the clock, before Joan Vera cashed in on a feed from Selin Everett on a play that originated on a penalty corner.

Middlebury took a 4-0 advantage into the half, netting the lone score of the second quarter. Chandler carried the ball from the left wing to just inside the top of the circle, before drilling a low shot into the cage with 3:18 left in the stanza.

Wesleyan had a good chance to get on the scoreboard midway through the third stanza, as Diana Schwarz broke in alone on Panther goalie Grace Harlan. The keeper challenged Schwarz, who lost control of the ball before she could get a shot off.

The hosts tacked on two final goals in the frame, as Nicholas whipped a backhanded shot into the upper-right corner of the net and Vera tallied her second of the contest off a penalty corner. The goals came just over five minutes apart for a six-goal cushion.

Wesleyan had another opportunity in the final 15 minutes with a penalty corner in the opening minutes, but the Middlebury defense smothered the attempt before the Cardinals could muster a shot to make the final 6-0.

            Harlan (45 minutes) and KK Newton (15 minutes) shared the shutout for the Panthers, as the defense held the Cardinals without a shot. Wesleyan goalie Caitlin Grant finished with one save.

            The Panthers took all 14 shots in the contest and held a 5-2 edge in penalty corners.