The sixth-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team led by two goals late into the third period and held off a furious comeback bid by Bowdoin to earn a 2-1 victory. The win was head coach Bill Mandigo's 650th, as he remains the winningest women's ice hockey coach across all three divisions. With the triumph, the Panthers complete the weekend sweep and grab six points in the NESCAC standings. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Polar Bears came out strong, producing a quality chance to score with just 1:38 expired. Jackie Miller and Abigail Ainley had a nice give-and-go, but Panther netminder Sophia Will thwarted Ainley's chance.
• Less than two minutes later, Middlebury threatened to get on the board. Audrey Lazar broke in on a two-on-one, but her shot from the right point was denied by goalie Abby Matusovich. Lazar grabbed her rebound and skated behind the net, sending a pass that Jocelyn Acosta one-timed, but Acosta's bid was met by a sprawling Matusovich.
• With 4:24 elapsed in the middle frame, the Polar Bears found themselves in a two-on-one situation. Anyi Sun sent a cross-ice pass to Elena DiMagno, but DiMagno's attempt from the doorstep was denied by Will.
• Avery McInerny grabbed the ensuing rebound off the save from Will, skating up the left boards and into the offensive zone with a head of steam. McInerny laid off the puck to Kate Flynn who one-timed it from the slot to make it 1-0.
• The Panthers had a pair of power-play opportunities midway through the period, with their best chance to score coming at the 8:55 mark. An initial bid by Olivia McManus was stopped by Matusovich, but Flynn was on the left pipe waiting for the rebound. Flynn tried to stuff the puck past Matusovich, but the Polar Bear came up big with a save.
• Middlebury made it 2-0 with less than three minutes to go in the stanza. Julia Johnson's initial shot from just inside the blue line was blocked by a defender, but Johnson grabbed her rebound and skated to the right point, before rifling a shot that eluded Matusovich for the two-goal lead.
• Just under halfway through the third period, the Panthers threatened again during a power play, but Cece Ziegler's slap-shot attempt from the left dot was thwarted by Matusovich. 
• Bowdoin cut the deficit in half at the 13:49 mark, making it 2-1 when Ainley shoveled the puck in on the right pipe for the power-play tally.
• The final minutes of the period were chaotic, with the Polar Bears earning a power-play and pulling their goalie in favor of the six-on-four advantage. Middlebury stood tall, denying Bowdoin a goal and securing the 2-1 triumph. 

NOTES

• McInerny factored into four of the Panthers' five goals against the Polar Bears this weekend, tallying three points on Friday (2G, 1A) and an assist on the initial marker today.

Middlebury travels to longtime rival #4 Plattsburgh State on Tuesday for a 7:00 p.m. contest.