The top-ranked Middlebury field hockey team scored three goals in the first half, propelling the Panthers to a 4-0 victory over #16 Bowdoin. Middlebury has won 15-consecutive contests, with five of its six 2023 wins coming via a shutout.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers opened the scoring with 2:01 expired in the game. An initial shot by Amy Griffin was blocked by a Polar Bear defender, but Lilly Branka batted the ball out of the air and directed it into the cage for the early 1-0 edge.
• Bowdoin's only quality opportunity of the half came with 8:55 elapsed after a penalty corner. Caroline Higgins inserted the ball, and Faith Jennings used a reverse sweep to send the ball back toward Higgins on the post, but Higgins' one-time bid went just wide. 
• The Panthers made it 2-0 with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Goalie Julie Arsenault denied an initial bid by Griffin with her left pad, and kicked away the bouncing ball with her right foot. Caroline Segal got her stick on the loose ball and slipped it into the bottom left corner of the cage. 
• Middlebury's Katherine Lanzty made it 3-0 early in the second frame with a beautiful aerial shot. Just inside the circle on the left, the Panther used a reverse shot to lift the ball into the upper-right 90 for her first tally of the season.
• The Polar Bears came out of the halftime break strong, earning a corner with just 1:10 expired. Higgins inserted, Jennings stopped and slid the ball over to Georgie Coetzer, but Coetzer's blast from the top of the circle sailed just wide right.
• Middlebury increased its advantage to 4-0 with 42:09 expired when a strong reverse sweep from Griffin just inside the circle made its way through traffic, hitting the backstop.
• Bowdoin had a final chance to deny the Panthers of a shutout in the waning minutes of the game, but Panther goalie KK Newton made a diving save to deny Mackay Bommer's attempt on the right post. 

NOTES

• Griffin's assist on the initial goal gives her 30 in her career, moving the Panther into fifth place on the program's list.
• Today's contest was the 48th meeting between the programs, with Middlebury increasing its mark to 29-27-1 against the Polar Bears. 

 
The Panthers have a quick turnaround, hosting #13 Bates on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.