Top-ranked Middlebury scored three times in first period, as the Panthers completed a two-game NESCAC sweep of visiting Wesleyan on Saturday, posting a 4-1 triumph. Middlebury (11-0, 6-0) has a non-conference test on Tuesday, hosting #2 Plattsburgh State at 3:00 p.m., while the Cardinals (6-2, 2-3) are idle until Friday with a road contest at Connecticut College.

The 11-0 start is the best for the Panther program since the 2005-06 season and the Panthers are one of only two undefeated teams left in Division III, with Nazareth sitting at 16-0.

The Panthers struck quickly in the opening period, taking a 1-0 advantage after just 11 seconds of play. Madie Leidt sent a centering pass from the left side to the top of the crease, where Jenna Letterie knocked in her first goal of the season. Middlebury doubled its lead at the 3:56 mark, as Raia Schluter wristed a shot from the left circle that beat Cardinal goalie Rei Halloran. The hosts tacked on another tally 3:16 later when Maddie Bayard won the puck and slid a short pass to the slot where Cat Appleyard notched her sixth score of the season.

Wesleyan's best scoring chance came with 9:35 on the clock. Effie Tournas skated up the left side and used a Panther defender as a screen, but Middlebury goalie Sophia Merageas steered the bid aside.

It was the visitor's turn to score early in the middle stanza, as Caroline Jenkins poked the puck free to Cali Stevens, who found Caroline Mezias at the right side of the net for her third marker of the season. Middlebury had two shot-filled power plays later in the period, but Halloran held her ground to keep the scoreboard at 3-1 heading into the final intermission.

Wesleyan pressed in the opening 10 minutes of the third stanza, but the Panthers' defense didn't allow the Cardinals to draw any closer. Middlebury closed out the scoring with an extra insurance goal with 3:09 remaining. Kylie Quinlan netted her second of the season, after Ellie Barney's initial attempt was blocked by a Cardinal defender for the 4-1 final.

Merageas turned aside 17-18 shots to improve to 7-0 on the season, while Halloran finished with 32 stops for Wesleyan.

Middlebury doubled up the Cardinals on shots (36-18).