The #1/top-seeded Middlebury field hockey team became the first program in NESCAC history to win six-consecutive conference championships. The Panthers blanked Williams 4-0 on Sunday in a battle between a pair of top-10 nationally-ranked teams. Middlebury also became the first team in conference history to win 10 field hockey titles. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers looked for an early lead less than a minute into the first quarter, but a redirect by Katherine Lantzy was saved by the right pad of Eph goalie Gates Tenerowicz. 
• Middlebury opened the scoring with 2:57 elapsed. Caroline Segal's initial shot was saved on the left post, but the Panther collected her own rebound and tapped the ball into the cage for the 1-0 lead.
• The hosts increased their advantage on a gritty individual effort from Katie George. The Panther collected a pass inside the arc, spinning around before ripping a shot that snuck between the pads of Tenerowicz with 5:40 left in the stanza to make it 2-0.
• A sprawling save by the Williams goalie just 20 seconds into the second frame on a close-range bid by George kept the score 2-0 in favor of Middlebury.
• The Ephs had their best scoring opportunity of the contest with 8:45 gone in the second quarter. Jacqui Sandor blasted a shot from the right side that Panther goalie KK Newton denied with her left pad. The rebound found the stick of Kiki Higgins, but her attempt whistled just wide of the post.
• Following the halftime break, Middlebury applied early pressure with three quality chances in the opening 2:56 of play. The best bid came on a tip that just sailed over the crossbar off the stick of Audrey Lazar.
• Nearing the midway point of the quarter, Lazar produced another opportunity with a blast from inside the arc, but Tenerowicz denied the ball with a diving save to keep the score 2-0.
• The Panthers pushed their edge to 3-0 with 6:25 showing on the clock when Amy Griffin rifled a shot into the right side of the cage for her 20th goal of the season.
• Middlebury capped the scoring when Lilly Branka converted on a penalty stroke that found space in the upper-left corner 4:34 into the final stanza for the 4-0 final score.

NOTES

• George placed her name in the NESCAC Tournament record books. She scored five goals and 11 points during the tournament, putting her in a fourth-place tie in both categories. For the second year in a row, George tallied five goals in the tournament which ranks third all-time. 
• George's first-quarter goal gives her 20 this season. It pushes her career total to 67, moving the senior into third place in the program's record books. 
• Griffin tallied eight points on four goals in the tournament, tying her for the top spot with three others including Middlebury alumnae Lauren Greer and Bridget Instrum.
• Middlebury recorded 14 goals during the league tournament's three contests, tying the top mark set by the Panthers during the 2013 and 2017 seasons, respectively.
• The Panthers earned their NESCAC-best 43rd victory (43-13) in the conference tournament.
• The shutout was the team's 10th this season, as Middlebury owns an impressive 0.56 goals against average.

The Panthers receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and wait for their opponent when the field is announced late Sunday evening.

NESCAC CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHT VIDEO