Middlebury's Katie George scored all four goals, as the top-ranked Panthers (5-0) earned a 4-1 victory over #12 Babson (4-1) on Sunday. The latest triumph extended the team's home-winning streak to 40-straight games. Next up for Middlebury is its first road contest of the season with a 12:00 p.m. start at Hamilton on Saturday, while Babson returns home on Tuesday, facing Skidmore at 4:00 p.m.
The Panthers had a big territorial edge in the first quarter, resulting in nine penalty corners. The best chance for the Panthers came just before the horn, as Erin Nicholas directed a shot from point-blank range that Beaver goalie Cassidy Riley denied.
In the second stanza, Babson had a quality scoring opportunity with 2:15 expired. Lauren Curley fired a shot from well inside the arc, but Panther goalie Grace Harlan kicked the bid aside. Middlebury struck for a goal with 18.3 seconds left in the half, as George's shot from the left side got through traffic and into the back of the cage.
George made it a 2-0 contest 1:37 into the third quarter, converting a short pass from Danielle Brown. The Panther completed the hat trick less than two minutes later, tucking in a rebound at the right post off after a shot by Isabel Chandler.
Babson tallied with 17.8 seconds left in the third frame, when Andrea Marguerite carried the ball to the cage from the right side, before sliding a low shot into the far corner. Marguerite's fourth goal of the season made it a 3-1 contest.
George saved her best goal for last, scoring with less than six minutes remaining in the contest. The Panther broke in alone on Riley and had her initial bid stopped as both players went to the ground. George was able to chip the ball past Riley and into the net for her fourth score of the game and sixth of the season. George's four goals are the most for a Middlebury player since Annie Leonard '18 scored five times during the 2016 season against St. Lawrence.
Harlan earned the win in goal for the Panthers with three saves, while Riley had eight stops for the Beaver.
Middlebury held a 20-6 advantage in shots and a 15-5 edge in penalty corners.
