The third-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team downed Endicott 4-1 in Saturday's second game of the Panther/Cardinal Classic. With the win, the squad advances to the title tilt against #6 Plattsburgh State at 5:00 p.m.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Gulls tested Middlebury goalie Sophia Merageas out of the gates with a pair of back-to-back chances with nearly three minutes gone. Lindsay Goodman had a one-on-one attempt that Merageas turned away in the lower right, before stuffing Goodman on the rebound.
- At the 3:37 mark, the Panthers took a 1-0 edge. Alison Giebler found Jordan Hower on the rush, before Hower skated around a pair of defenders and slotted her shot into the left side.
- Middlebury doubled its advantage at the 8:15 mark. An initial bid by Olivia McManus from the left point was denied by Casey Moritz, before Callia Ferraris collected the rebound and tucked the puck inside the left pipe for the 2-0 lead.
- The Panthers added a third tally midway through the stanza. Cat Appleyard connected with Avery McInerny's centering pass and deposited the puck inside the goal to make it 3-0.
- Endicott broke up the Middlebury scoring frenzy just 40 seconds later with 10:31 expired. Following a faceoff victory, Lily Anderson fired a shot from between the circles that deflected off a defender's stick and nestled into the right side of the net for the 3-1 score.
- The Panthers looked to score with just 42 ticks off the clock in the middle frame, but McInerny's attempt was denied by the pads of Casey Moritz.
- Middlebury extended its advantage to 4-1 with 9:06 elapsed. An initial bid by Ferraris was redirected by Kate Flynn on the left pipe.
- The Panthers had a good chance to increase the lead at the 14:48 mark of the third period, but Mortiz sprawled out to deny McManus' point-blank bid and keep the difference at three (4-1).
NOTES
- The squad has scored three or more goals in five of its six contests this year.
- Middlebury and Endicott faced off for the 12th time with the Panthers claiming their 10th win in the series.
- This marks the 19th year of the Panther/Cardinal Classic.
Middlebury and Plattsburgh State meet in the championship game for the ninth time, and second straight.