The top-ranked Middlebury field hockey team scored once in each of the first three quarters and pulled away for a 3-1 victory at #11 Amherst. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers opened the scoring just 1:18 into the first quarter when Katherine Lantzy scored on a backhanded bid for the 1-0 edge.
• The Mammoths had their best scoring chance of the quarter on a penalty corner with four minutes remaining, but Beth Williamson's blast from just inside the circle was saved by Panther goalie Grace Harlan.
• Amherst evened the score at 1-1 just 33 seconds into the second quarter. The Mammoths gathered the loose ball inside the 25-yard line, as Kat Mason drove down the right side. Mason fed a nifty pass to Muffie Mazambani, who one-timed the ball into the left side of the Panther cage past a diving Harlan. 
• The Panthers had two quality scoring chances with less than five minutes to go in the second quarter, with back-to-back shots by Katie George and Caroline Segal denied by Amherst goalie Sara Nidus.
• With 1:16 left on the clock before halftime, the Panthers took the lead for good. Segal found open space on the right side, with her initial shot being blocked by a defender. She gathered the bouncing ball and ripped it into the left corner of the cage for a 2-1 halftime edge.
• Amy Griffin increased the Middlebury lead on a penalty stroke with 11:37 left in the third quarter. She tucked a rising shot into the right side of the goal for the 3-1 lead. 
• With much of the play happening in the midfield during the final stanza, Amherst had its best scoring chance with five minutes remaining. Three-straight shot attempts were blocked by a strong Panther defense as Middlebury hung on for the 3-1 victory.

NOTES

• Middlebury has won 11-consecutive NESCAC openers.
• The Panthers extended Division III's longest winning streak to 32-consecutive triumphs.
• Middlebury picked up its first win of the season against a nationally-ranked opponent.