The second-ranked Middlebury field hockey team has earned the top seed in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament. The four-time defending conference champions will begin their quest for the program's ninth title when they host eighth-seeded Hamilton on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. in quarterfinal action.
 
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY

• Middlebury earned the top seed for the fifth year in a row and the ninth time overall.
• The Panthers claimed the 2021 NESCAC Title in thrilling fashion, battling back from a 3-0 deficit to edge Bowdoin 4-3.
• Middlebury is making its 22nd appearance in the tournament and is one of just two programs (Bowdoin) to qualify every year since its inception in 2000. Both squads are tied for the most championships with eight apiece.
• The program has claimed the most NESCAC Tournament victories (37) and has a stellar 37-13 all-time record in the conference championship.
• Middlebury set a program record with the nation's longest winning streak earlier this season. The team won 42-straight games, a streak dating back to 2019. The previous program mark of 38 dated all the way back to the 1970s. The squad also ran its consecutive wins on Kohn Field to 51. 
• The Panthers have advanced to the semifinals in each of the last 10 tournaments. 
• Middlebury features a balanced offensive output, with 17 different players recording a goal and 21 tallying a point. 
• The Panthers rank in the top-five spots in Division III in scoring margin (+4.60, second), scoring average (5.33 GPG, second), points per game (13.47 PPG, second) and penalty corners per game (12.80, fourth).

PANTHERS TO WATCH

• Amy Griffin is tied for the NESCAC lead in points (41) and assists (11) and ranks second in goals (15). She had a streak of scoring at least one point in 10-straight contests earlier this season and has at least one point in 13 of 15 games. During the middle of the season, Griffin recorded a hat trick in back-to-back games.
• Katie George paces the Panthers with three game-winning goals and is second on the team with five assists. She has scored eight tallies and has at least one point in five of the last six contests. 
• Panthers Audrey Lazar and Lilly Branka each have double-digit goals (10), helping to fuel the potent offensive charge.
• The Middlebury defensive unit has surrendered just 11 goals this season, anchored by captain Grace Harlan in the goal. Harlan has started all 15 contests and recently moved into second place in the program's career record books with 19 shutouts. Harlans leads the NESCAC and ranks 10th nationally with 0.79 goals against average (GAA).
• Charlotte Marks, Meg Shelburne and Emily Stone have been mainstays for the Panther defense this season. Marks plays a pivotal role as a center back and has logged the most minutes played (792) on the team, while Stone is right behind with 773 minutes.

ABOUT HAMILTON

• The 17th-ranked Continentals earned a spot in the tournament for the ninth time in program history and are looking for their first title.
• Hamilton is the eighth seed for the first time since 2014.
• The Continentals have advanced to the semifinals twice, most recently in 2019.
• Hamilton finished the regular season with an 8-7 overall record and a 4-6 NESCAC mark this fall, dropping a 2-1 decision at William Smith on Wednesday. 

CONTINENTALS TO WATCH

• Tracey Stafford paces the Continental offense with 15 points (7G, 1A) and is tied for the league lead with four game-winning tallies. 
• Hannah Dillon (4G, 6A), Delaney Grace (5G, 3A) and Lilly Truchon (5G, 1A) each have double-figure point totals. 
• Kiera Wax, Grace Cooper and Brooke Marx have been constant presences for the Continental defense throughout the season. Wax and Cooper are tied for the team lead with 907 minutes played. 
• Abby Griffin has started each contest in goal for Hamilton, collecting 55 saves with a 1.79 GAA and a .679 save percentage. She ranks fifth in the conference in both saves and save percentage. 

SERIES HISTORY

• The Panthers and the Continentals have met 23 times with Middlebury owning a 19-4 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1987. 
• The Panthers picked up a 2-1 victory on September 17 in New York. The result was the narrowest outcome in the last six meetings.
• Middlebury is 3-0 against Hamilton in the NESCAC Championship, including a 3-0 semifinal triumph in 2019.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

• Quarterfinals will occur at the top-four seeds on Saturday, October 29. The rest of the tournament will be hosted on Saturday, November 5 (Semifinals) and Sunday, November 6 (Championship) at the highest remaining seed. 
• Championship Central
• NESCAC Seeding Announcement