The top-ranked Middlebury women's hockey team recorded its 20th-straight victory, continuing its best start in program history. The Panthers exploded for seven goals, cruising past visiting Bowdoin (10-9-1, 6-8-1) by a 7-1 score on Friday evening. The two teams return to Kenyon Arena on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. to wrap up their respective regular-season slates.
 
Middlebury's 20-straight triumphs mark the second-longest winning streak in program history behind the mark of 24 established over parts of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. The Panthers are also the lone remaining unbeaten team in Division III.
 
Forward Madie Leidt skated in her 100th career game for Middlebury. 
 
Bowdoin started the first period with pressure on Middlebury goalie Sophia Merageas, peppering her with three shots in the opening four minutes, while also thwarting an extra-skater chance for the visitors. Merageas posted her best saves of the period while Bowdoin was shorthanded with 13:34 elapsed, as back-to-back shots by Gia Massari and Allison Britt were denied on the rush. The Panthers got on the scoreboard just 32 seconds later when Cat Appleyard one-timed a nifty pass from Katie Hargrave at the 14:11 mark. The goal is Appleyard's 10th of the season and team-best seventh tally with the extra skater. 
 
Middlebury tallied three goals in the second period, with Hargrave sparking the scoring by ripping a shot from the right point with 3:12 elapsed. Maddie Bayard made it 3-0 on the power play with 1:21 showing on the clock, while Hargrave tallied her second of the game 34 seconds later for a 4-0 edge.
 
The Panthers made it 5-0 at the 8:18 mark of the third period when Leidt tipped in a shot from the left point by Claudia Vira. Vira added a goal with the extra skater at 13:54, while Jenna Letterie received a stick-to-stick puck through the neutral zone from Leidt at the 17:42 during a power play for the 7-0 lead. The Polar Bears spoiled the shutout with 1.4 seconds left, as Angelica Joyce tipped in a pass from behind the goal by Julia Sugenor for the final 7-1 tally.
 
Merageas stopped 17 shots to earn the win for Middlebury, while Danielle Marquez finished with 33 saves for the Polar Bears. The Panthers went 3-6 on the power play and erased both advantages by Bowdoin.