The Middlebury field hockey team scored twice in the second half and held off a strong Tufts' squad to capture the NCAA Championship with a 2-1 triumph. The Panthers secured their seventh-straight crown and ninth overall as the program finishes the season with a 19-2 mark.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury manufactured a great opportunity on the first penalty corner with 5:49 elapsed. Grace Keefe blasted a rising shot off an insert that Tufts goalie Lydia Eastburn deflected away with her blocker.
• The Jumbos countered at the 6:36 mark as Claire Gavin took a redirection off a Panther stick and raced toward the left side of the cage. Goalie Madeline DiLemme thwarted Gavin's backhanded attempt to keep the score 0-0.
• The Panthers had two final chances in the opening quarter off penalty corner inserts from Caroline Segal. Each shot attempt from Emily Stone (9:39) and Megan Fuqua (14:32) was blocked by Jumbo defenders as the score read 0-0 after one. 
• Middlebury continued its relentless pressure just 50 seconds into the second stanza. Georgianne Defeo grabbed possession in a group of Jumbos and Panthers and blasted a bid toward the left post that was stopped by Eastburn.
• Lilly Branka nearly put the Panthers ahead at the 18:18 mark by sliding around two Tufts defenders on the endline and launching a bid near the left post. Eastburn stood her ground, pinning herself to the post and knocking the bid away.
• Lainie Person looked to put the Jumbos on the board just 2:04 into the second half, but her bid sailed wide left.
• Middlebury took the lead with 2:10 left on its first shot of the second half. Branka dribbled the ball near the Tufts endline and flicked a pass toward the middle of the cage. Segal sprawled out and tapped the ball in while diving to the ground for the 1-0 edge.
• The Panthers extended their lead at the 50:44 mark. Claire McMichael ran down the right side of the field and slid a pass toward the middle of the circle. Eastburn came off her line to kick the ball away, but Defeo got to the ball a second earlier and poked it underneath Eastburn's pads to make it 2-0.
• Tufts responded 22 seconds later off a penalty corner. Kylie Rosenquest found the cage after a great pass from Pearson to cut the deficit to one with 8:54 showing on the clock.
• Tufts tried to muster up some momentum, but Middlebury's defense stepped up to the task, not allowing a single shot over the remainder of action to earn the 2-1 triumph.

NOTES

• Branka was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after tallying two assists during the playoffs. Branka also earned a spot on the all-tournament squad alongside Amy Griffin (2G, 2A), Keefe (1G, 1A) and Segal (6G, 1A).
• With one goal today, Segal moves into fifth all-time in single-season points (57). Her tally is her fifth game-winner this season and the 10th of her career. Segal's marker caps her season with 24 goals, which is tied for fifth in program history over one campaign. 
• The Panthers close the season with 105 goals scored, good for second all-time behind the 107 scored by the 2022 and 2023 National Championship teams.
• Tufts and Middlebury battled for the 35th time and the fourth time in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers have won each of the last two meetings in the postseason, including a 2-0 victory in the 2018 title tilt. 
• Middlebury made its 21st postseason appearance and played in the championship game for the 13th time.
• This marked the fifth time that the NCAA Championship took place between a pair of NESCAC squads. The Panthers have appeared in each of those five contests, claiming three of them.

Middlebury caps the season with a 19-2 record, marking the 13th-consecutive season that the program has tallied 15 or more triumphs.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE