The fourth-seeded Middlebury women's hockey team will travel to Massachusetts this weekend to take on top-seeded Amherst in the NESCAC Semifinals. In the other semifinal, second-seeded Hamilton faces third-seeded Colby. The winners of the two games will play on Sunday, March 5 for the conference title.  
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY

• The Panthers earned their 700th program win and advanced to the NESCAC Semifinals by defeating fifth-seeded Connecticut College in a 4-0 quarterfinal victory in Chip Kenyon '85 Arena.
• Middlebury is searching for its 12th conference crown, and second in a row.
• The Panthers own a league-best 42 NESCAC Tournament triumphs, owning a 42-10 overall record.
• Middlebury has taken part in all 21 NESCAC Tournaments since its inception in 2002 and advanced to the conference final 17 times.  
• The Panthers are peaking at the right time, registering a 10-2-2 record over their last 14 contests.

PANTHERS TO WATCH

• Jenna Letterie recorded a trio of assists in Saturday's victory to surpass the 100-point career plateau (102). Letterie leads the conference in assists (17), is second in faceoff win percentage (.642) and third in points (26).
• The first-year duo of Britt Nawrocki and Avery McInerny have been instrumental for Middlebury's success this season. Nawrocki has 23 points, including a team-best 14 goals and six game-winners, which is tied for fifth nationally. McInerny tallied the Panthers' fourth goal in their quarterfinal victory and is third on the team in points (15).  
• Claudia Vira and Sabrina Kim have been stalwarts on defense this season, each registering 15 points on the year (4G, 11A). Vira leads the NESCAC in blocked shots with 44, while Kim ranks second on the team (24).
• Sophia Merageas and Sophia Will have shared time in goal for Middlebury this winter. Merageas recorded 22 saves in the win over Connecticut College, and owns an .818 winning percentage. That mark is seventh nationally, while her 1.52 goals against average (GAA) is 17th. Will has started 16 contests in her first-year campaign and boasts a .926 save percentage. 

ABOUT AMHERST

• Amherst reached the semifinal round by downing eighth-seeded Wesleyan 2-0 on home ice.
• The Mammoths have reached the final of the NESCAC tournament on 11 occasions, including four conference crowns. 
• Amherst is the only other team in the conference to make an appearance in all 21 NESCAC Tournaments and has won the second-most games in tournament play (30).
• The Mammoths lead the NESCAC in a plethora of categories, including goals scored (86), fewest goals allowed (26), assists (135), points (221), penalty killing percentage (.977), short-handed goals (eight) and faceoff winning percentage (.601).

MAMMOTHS TO WATCH

• Rylee Glennon leads the team and is second in the conference with 28 points (13G, 15A). The junior netted her team's second goal during the quarterfinal victory.
• Forwards Maeve Reynolds (11G, 12A) and Kate Pohl (12G, 10A) are both formidable offensive options for Amherst. 
• Avery Flynn and Emily Hohmann will be impactful in the defensive zone. Hohmann leads the team in blocked shots with 24, while Flynn has compiled 20 points this season with 15 assists.
• In goal, Natalie Stott is fifth in the nation and leads the NESCAC in goals against average (1.09). The first-year netminder has also recorded 10 shutouts.

SERIES HISTORY

• Middlebury and Amherst have squared off 62 times in the all-time series, with the Panthers holding a 38-10-14 edge.
• The teams have played 10 times in the NESCAC Tournament with Middlebury owning an 8-2 advantage. 
• The Panthers and the Mammoths met in the last two title tilts, with Middlebury earning the crown in 2022 and Amherst winning in 2020.
• The Mammoths won the weekend series in December, topping Middlebury 4-2 in each contest.

HAMILTON NOTES

• The second-seeded Continentals advanced to the semifinal round by defeating #7 seed Williams 3-1.
• Hamilton has participated in the semifinals in each of the past three seasons and is looking to advance to the NESCAC Championship for the first time in program history.
• The Panthers and the Continentals split their regular season series this winter.  

COLBY NOTES

• The third-seeded Mules earned their place in the conference semifinals by slipping past sixth-seeded Trinity 2-1 in overtime. 
• Last year, Colby fell to Amherst in the NESCAC semifinals in overtime by a 2-1 scoreline.
• The Mules are hoping to reach the conference final for just the second time, with their only other appearance coming in 2008.
• This year, Middlebury traveled to Colby and earned a weekend sweep, including a 4-3 overtime win in the second contest.

TOURNAMENT INFO

• Championship weekend action will be hosted by Amherst on Saturday, March 4, (Semifinals) and Sunday, March 5 (Championship).
• Championship Central
• NESCAC Semifinal Announcement
• Ticket Information