The top-ranked Middlebury women's hockey team continued it's impressive start to the season by completing a road sweep of conference foe Colby on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers (13-0, 8-0) edged the Mules (8-3, 4-3) by a score of 2-1 to remain one of only two teams in the nation with an unblemished record. The 13 wins are the best start to a season since the 2005-06 team rattled off 18 in a row. Middlebury returns to action next Friday when the Panthers host Hamilton for a NESCAC tilt at 7:00 p.m. 
 
The first period saw a fast start to play with both teams pressuring and earning quality opportunities early on. Middlebury made the most of its first five-on-four chance when Katie Hargrave punched in a rebound from the top of the crease to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Cat Appleyard and Jenna Letterie earned assists on the play after working to rebound the initial shot from Madie Leidt in front of the goal. Colby responded to the tally by pressuring the Middlebury defense and rattling off the next six shots. The Mules got their first power play chance with 12:16 left in the period, but strong special teams play led to an effective penalty kill by the Panthers, who cleared the puck three times.
 
The second stanza opened with a flurry of offensive action by the Mules. With heavy traffic in front of the net, Middlebury goaltender Sophia Merageas lost her stick and had to adjust. Abby Wick took advantage and notched her first collegiate goal by sliding a shot into the skate of Merageas which deflected into the net. With under 20 seconds remaining in the period and the game knotted at 1-1, Leidt controlled the puck in the offensive zone and made a clean pass to Letterie who wristed a perfect shot to score and give the Panthers the 2-1 edge at the end of two periods. 
 
The third period saw both teams trade offensive opportunities and balanced play. Middlebury had a power play chance mid-way through the stanza, but all six shots failed to find the net. Under pressure from Colby's surging offense, the Panthers were whistled for hooking which led to Colby's second power play of the game with under eight minutes remaining. Middlebury was able to kill the advantage, nearly scoring a shorthanded goal in the process. With just under two minutes remaining, the Mules pulled goaltender Nina Prunster in favor of an added skater, but the Panthers held off the last-minute push from the Mules and prevailed by a final score of 2-1.
 
Merageas saved 32 shots for an impressive .970 save percentage, while Colby netminder Prunster stopped 22 of the 24 shots she faced.