Middlebury kept its journey for a sixth-straight national championship alive, as the top-ranked Panthers scored a first-quarter goal and added a pair of tallies in the final minutes for a 3-0 shutout over #5 Messiah during Sunday's NCAA Regional Final. With the victory, Middlebury earns its 14th trip to the final four after locking down on the defensive end and allowing the Falcons just one first-quarter shot that was blocked.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers struck first 6:37 into the defensive-oriented opening quarter with the stanza's lone shot on goal. Hanna Medwar dribbled down the left side, firing a pass toward the cage that Katie George deflected inside the post for the 1-0 lead.
• A majority of the action in the second frame was played in the midfield. Middlebury produced the best chance with 3:29 remaining before halftime when Audrey Lazar blasted a shot that hit the outside of the cage.
• After the intermission, George ripped a reverse sweep that Falcon goalie Catie Brubaker kicked away with her right pad 5:23 into the third quarter.
• Four minutes later, Caroline Segal dribbled down the right side of the goal line that Brubaker sprawled out to save to keep the contest a one-goal difference.
• The Panthers looked to double their advantage 6:59 into the final quarter, but Brubaker denied back-to-back bids by George and Segal on the doorstep.
• Middlebury increased the lead with 1:04 left while Messiah was serving a green card. Amy Griffin dribbled inside the arc, sending a pass to the stick of Lazar who tapped the ball inside the right post.
• Lazar tacked on the third score with five seconds remaining on a nice individual effort for the final 3-0 score.

NOTES

• George recorded her team-leading 23rd goal in the victory and posted the 20th game-winning marker of her career. She also tallied her 70th career score and moved into a tie for fifth place in the program's career record book with 155 points (70G, 15A).
• KK Newton posted her ninth shutout of the season and didn't face a shot in the triumph.]
• Lazar's two goals mark the second time she has tallied two scores this season and is the 12th of her career.
• The Panther defense hasn't surrendered a goal in the last 195:13 of action.
• Middlebury has scored 102 goals this season, marking the third-highest total in the program's single-season history.
• The Panthers are the lone unbeaten team remaining in Division III after Christopher Newport lost during Saturday's Round of 16 action.
• Middlebury hasn't allowed a goal in 400:27 of NCAA Tournament play dating back to the 2021 season. The Panthers last surrendered a tally in NCAA play to Johns Hopkins during the 2021 national championship game.
• The program picked up its 29th-consecutive victory dating back to the 2022 campaign.
• With the win, Middlebury secured its sixth-straight season with 20 or more victories.

The Panthers will play second-ranked Babson in a semifinal contest on November 17 at 3:00 p.m. In the other game, #14 Kean plays #4 Johns Hopkins at 12:00 p.m.