The second-ranked Middlebury field hockey team posted an 8-0 triumph over #11 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Saturday at Peter Kohn Field. The Panthers advance to Sunday's regional final at 1:00 p.m. and will play the winner of Saturday's second contest between #9 Trinity and 15th-ranked The College of New Jersey. Middlebury collected its 50th win in NCAA Tournament history (50-16), becoming one of four programs in Division III to claim this honor. Middlebury goalie Grace Harlan became the Panthers' career shutout leader in the victory, tallying her 22nd with three saves.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury got on the scoreboard 2:56 into the first quarter when Audrey Lazar tapped in a pass from Amy Griffin.
• Katie George increased the Panther lead 4:49 later with a reverse stick sweep on the left side of the circle to make it 2-0.
• Middlebury capped the scoring in the opening quarter when Caroline Segal stuffed home a pass from Katherine Lantzy just 54 seconds later.
• The Panthers added three more goals in the second quarter, as Grace Murphy put in a rebound on the right side less than a minute into the quarter for a 4-0 advantage.
• George made it a 5-0 contest with 3:41 elapsed in the quarter, redirecting a pass from Griffin.  
• Georgianne Defeo concluded the scoring in the second stanza for Middlebury with 7:22 expired, making it 6-0 when she tucked a penalty stroke in the upper-left corner.
• The Engineers looked to get on the scoreboard with three minutes left before halftime, but Harlan saved both MIT attempts on the left side to maintain the 6-0 advantage.
• Following the halftime break, Middlebury's Grace Keefe lofted a shot following a penalty corner but MIT's Carly Briggs made a great defensive save poking the bid over the crossbar.
• The Panthers made it a 7-0 score when Taylor Leckey tallied her first career goal with 4:53 left in the third period. 
• George completed her hat trick 1:02 later, tapping in a loose ball on the left side for an 8-0 lead. 
• The two teams played mainly in the midfield during the final quarter, as the Panthers eased to an 8-0 triumph.

NOTES

• Harlan earned her seventh shutout of the season and 22nd of her career, becoming the program's all-time leader.
• George's first goal against MIT pushed the third-year Panther over the 100-point career plateau (46G, 12A).
• Middlebury becomes just the fourth program to win 50 NCAA games in field hockey Division III history. The Panthers join Messiah, TCNJ and Salisbury in that illustrious group. 
• The Panthers have scored 99 goals this season, tying them for second in the program's single-season history.