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Sep. 10, 2022; Amherst, Massachusetts, USA; during a NESCAC matchup at Hill Field. The Panthers defeated the Mammoths 3-1. Photo by Brian Foley for Foley Photography.
Brian Foley
Branka had a hat trick in the 4-0 victory.
4
Winner Middlebury MIDFH (5-0)
0
Babson BABSON (4-2)
Winner
Middlebury MIDFH
(5-0)
4
Final
0
Babson BABSON
(4-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Middlebury MIDFH 1 1 2 0 4
Babson BABSON 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Branka Hat Trick Powers #1 Middlebury Past #7 Babson

The top-ranked Middlebury field hockey team shut out #7 Babson 4-0, powered by a hat trick from Lilly Branka. The triumph was the 35th-straight victory for the Panthers, a winning streak that dates back to the 2019 season. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS
  • The Beavers looked to get on the board just 21 seconds into the contest, but a strong Middlebury defense stymied a shot from Babson after a penalty corner.
  • The Panthers opened the scoring with 2:50 expired. Audrey Lazar inserted a penalty corner before Amy Griffin stopped the ball and worked it around the circle to Meg Shelburne on the right. Branka tapped in an initial bid by Shelburne for the 1-0 early edge.
  • Middlebury had a trio of penalty corners to close out the quarter, but the Babson defense kept the Panthers at bay.
  • After a penalty corner early in the second frame, Griffin had a great shot on goal that was blocked by a defender and caused a scramble in front of the cage. Beaver goalie Bayla Furmanek sprawled out, but no one could gain control of the ball for several seconds before Babson's Meara Hanyon eventually cleared the ball out of danger.
  • Middlebury made it 2-0 just a minute later at the 21:21 mark. Griffin stopped a penalty corner insert, spun around a defender and lifted the ball in the air, before Branka batted the ball into the upper right corner.
  • The Panthers carried their momentum into the third quarter, adding a tally with 1:32 elapsed. Sandwiched between a pair of defenders, Katie George sent a nice feed into the circle. A Beaver got a stick on the pass, but Grace Murphy was there to capitalize on a bad touch, blasting the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal for the 3-0 lead.
  • Branka completed her hat trick at exactly 35:00 when she tipped in an initial shot by Murphy for the 4-0 advantage. 
  • Middlebury had five penalty corners and five shots in the final quarter of action, but Babson denied all opportunities, as the Panthers eased to the 4-0 win.
NOTES
  • Grace Harlan recorded her 17th career shutout and remains third on Middlebury's all-time list with most shutouts in a career. 
  • Middlebury's victory marked the fifth-consecutive win against Babson and was the second win over a nationally ranked team this season. 
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