The top-ranked Middlebury women's hockey team completed a weekend sweep over Bowdoin (10-10-1, 6-9-1), topping the Polar Bears 3-1 on Saturday. With the win, the Panthers conclude the regular season with an unblemished 21-0-0 (15-0-0 NESCAC) record and remain the only team in Division III without a loss this season. Middlebury secured the top seed of the upcoming NESCAC Tournament and will host a quarterfinal game on Sunday, February 27 against the winner of the #8/#9 first-round contest on Friday. 
 
Prior to the start of today's game, the Panthers honored seniors Ellie Barney, Morgan Griffin, Katie Hargrave, Madie Leidt, Alexis Ryan, Caroline Silk and Kiara Vazquez.
 
Middlebury looked to open the scoring with 12:59 elapsed in the first period when Claudia Vira one-timed a rebound, but her shot hit the crossbar. Bowdoin had a great opportunity just under a minute later, but Silk thwarted the point-blank attempt from Jackie Miller. Middlebury broke through with 27 seconds left in the opening stanza during a power play. Cat Appleyard one-timed the puck from the top of the left faceoff circle into the upper-right corner of the goal for her 11th marker of the year.
 
The Panthers doubled their lead with 5:56 expired in the middle frame. Back-to-back bids from Vira and Jenna Letterie were denied by a sprawling Bowdoin goalie Danielle Marquez, but Leidt collected the rebound and slipped the puck past Marquez for the 2-0 advantage. The Polar Bears had a good chance to cut the deficit in half at the 13:47 mark when Izzi Stoddard sent a bid from the high slot, but Silk thwarted the power-play chance.
 
Middlebury made it a 3-0 game during a six-on-four opportunity just 1:30 into the final period. Leidt went bar down from the top of the left faceoff circle for her conference-leading 16th tally of the season. Bowdoin spoiled the shutout with 11:21 elapsed when Gia Massari redirected an initial shot by Stoddard for the 3-1 final.
 
Silk made 14 saves during the victory, while Marquez had an impressive 39 stops. The Panthers held a commanding 42-15 advantage in shots.