Ninth-ranked Middlebury took advantage of a strong opening half on its way to a 19-12 win over #20 Bowdoin (0-1, 0-1) on Kohn Field in the NESCAC and season opener for both teams. The Panthers (1-0, 1-0) return to action next Saturday with a 12:00 p.m. start at Connecticut College, while the Polar Bears host New England College on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
 
Saturday's victory for Middlebury was the 26th-straight triumph dating back to March 2, 2019 and also pushed its home winning streak to 15. 
 
Tied at 1-1, Middlebury tallied the final four goals of the first quarter for a 5-1 advantage. Jane Earley recorded a pair of markers during the run, including a quick-stick score on an assist from Lily Riseberg for the four-goal lead.
 
Bowdoin's Annabelle Gersch pulled the visitors to within three (5-2) just 16 seconds into the second quarter on a bouncing shot from the left. Erin Nicholas tallied the next three goals for Middlebury spanning 2:14 of action, giving the hosts an 8-2 lead on a top-left corner goal with 10:53 left. After trading the ensuing four goals, scores by Middlebury's Niki Mormile and Earley increased the lead to 10-4. Earley's score came while the Panthers were a player up. Goals by Fiona Bundy and Gersch in the waning minutes brought the Polar Bears back to within five (11-6) headed to halftime.
 
Following the break, the two sides both scored three times during the third quarter. Bundy recorded two goals for Bowdoin, while Sophia Schaefer found the back of the net on a nifty pass from behind the goal by Lauren Burke while a player up. Three different players scored for the Panthers, as the hosts took a 14-9 lead into the final quarter.
 
Ahead 15-10, Nicholas had a pass from Riseberg bounce off her and into the goal for a six-goal edge with 6:08 left. Nicholas scored less than a minute later on a bouncing shot from left to right for her sixth of the game. The teams traded the last four goals for the 19-12 final score.
 
Nicholas led the Panther attack with her six goals, including three free-position tallies, to go along with eight draw controls. Earley tied her career high with five goals, while Hope Shue had four points on three goals and an assist. Erica Barr finished with five ground balls and a team-best three caused turnovers. Annie Enrietto made 12 saves in goal during her debut for the Panthers and had a team-high six ground balls. 
 
Bundy and Gersch both had four points with three goals and a helper for Bowdoin, while Emelia Krakora scored twice. Schaefer had a goal and a game-high nine draw controls, while Gersch chipped in with four draw controls and three caused turnovers. Sophia Rutman played the first quarter in goal with four saves, while Aaliyah Biondo made eight stops in the final three quarters.