The seventh-ranked Middlebury women's hockey team held off a late charge by Williams to secure a 3-2 triumph on the road on Saturday. With the triumph, the Panthers extend their unbeaten streak to five. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, sending five shots on goal in the opening 2:12, while keeping the puck in the offensive zone the entire time.
• The Panthers broke through with 6:39 expired in the stanza. Maddie Bayard cleared the puck out of the defensive zone, chipping it up the left boards to Delanie Goniwiecha. Skating up the left and through the circle, Goniwiecha sent a pass across the slot where Zoe Pincelli was there to one-time the puck under the crossbar for the 1-0 edge.
• The best chance for Williams to score came during the 14th minute, but back-to-back bids were thwarted by netminder Sophia Will. 
• Middlebury doubled its lead with just 14 seconds left in the period. Avery McInerny dug the puck out of the left pocket, sending it between the circles where Jordan Hower skated through and blasted a shot that went bar down for the 2-0 advantage.
• With 4:17 off the clock in the middle frame, Williams cut the deficit in half (2-1). Christina Halloran poked the puck out of the defensive zone, sending Bella DeLuca rushing into the offensive zone alone. DeLuca ripped a shot from the left point that just snuck inside the left pipe for the short-handed tally.
• The Ephs had a great chance to knot the game during a power play. Maddie Tix skated toward Will on a breakaway, but the goaltender made a sprawling save to deny the chance at the 9:11 mark.
• The Panthers answered with 10:48 elapsed in the frame when Jenna Letterie beat a defender before eluding Williams' goalie Erin Pye through the five-hole for the 3-1 advantage. 
• Middlebury threatened to tack on another tally with 58 seconds left in the stanza, but Kylie Quinlan's attempt hit the crossbar and pinged away.
• Williams cut the deficit back down to one (3-2) with 9:03 left when Halloran skated two-on-one toward the goal, before slipping the puck into the net.
• The Ephs pulled their goalie with 1:59 to go in the competition, but the Panthers were able to hold off the Williams attack to secure the 3-2 win.

 NOTES

• Pincelli's goal was the first in her career at Middlebury. 
• Ashley McDonald skated in her 100th career game as a Panther.
• With Letterie's marker today, she moves into the lead on the team with 20 points (8G, 12A).
• Will stopped 30 shots during the contest to earn her seventh victory in goal. 

 The Panthers wrap up the regular season next weekend with a two-game series at Hamilton.