The top-seeded Middlebury field hockey team is set to host the final weekend of the NESCAC Tournament. The Panthers take on fifth-seeded Bates on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., while second-seeded Williams and third-seeded Tufts play in the other semifinal at 1:30 p.m. on Peter Kohn Field.
 
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY

• Middlebury is seeking its seventh-straight league crown, and the program's 10th overall. 
• The #1 Panthers are the only school to qualify for every conference tournament since its inception in 2000.
• Middlebury has claimed 25-consecutive contests on Peter Kohn Field, including an 8-0 record this fall. Over the last 79 home games, the Panthers have dropped just one.
• Entering the weekend, Middlebury ranks first in the NESCAC in several statistical categories including scoring average (5.50 goals per game), scoring margin (+4.69) and penalty corners (185). 
• The Panthers have recorded six shutouts this season and limited opponents to just 13 goals this fall.
• Earlier this year, Middlebury set a program record for its longest win streak, claiming 43-consecutive victories dating back to 2022. 

PANTHERS TO WATCH

• Starting in all 16 games in the cage has been Izzy Redzic. The goalie ranks third in the NESCAC with a 0.878 goals against average (GAA) and owns 14 wins with a pair of shutouts. 
• Anchoring the defense has been center back Emily Stone who has started all 16 contests, while tying for the most minutes played (855). The Panther is also tied for fifth on the squad with 16 points (5G, 6A). 
• Lilly Branka, Ellie Hughes and Katherine Lantzy have contributed on both ends of the field, packing a powerful punch as a triple threat in the midfield. The trio has started all 16 games, each playing well over 700 minutes this season. On the offensive end, Branka paces the group with 15 points (5G, 5A) and a pair of game-winners, while Lantzy (4G, 3A) is one spot back with 11. 
• Also contributing to the offensive output has been Caroline Haggerty (6G, 4A) who has appeared in every game, and Ellie Harrison (3G, 3A) who has made an appearance in 13 contests. 
• Leading the league by nearly 10 points is Caroline Segal with 44 on the year. The Panther is first with 18 goals and third with eight assists. Segal makes her tallies count, recording four game-winners this year.
• Georgianne Defeo and Amy Griffin also contribute significantly to the points column, ranking second in the NESCAC in tallies (15) and helpers (12), respectively. 

ABOUT BATES

• Bates is appearing in the NESCAC Semifinals for just the second time in program history, and the second year in a row.
• The #15/fifth-seeded Bobcats knocked off #10/fourth-seeded Wesleyan in a sudden-victory shootout after the teams tied in the initial five rounds to force the decider. 
• Bates is making its 12th appearance in the tournament and fifth straight, while looking to advance to the title game for the first time in program history.
• The Bobcats own an 11-5 mark heading into the weekend, with their only losses coming to nationally-ranked NESCAC opponents and then-#4 Babson.  

BOBCATS TO WATCH

• Pacing Bates up front has been Anna Cote, leading the squad in points (25), goals (10) and assists (five). Cote ranks first in the conference with five golden markers.
• Forwards Maria Famia and Brooke Moloney-Kolenberg rank second and third on the team in points, with 14 and 13, respectively. 
• The hero for the Bobcats during the quarterfinals was Anna Lindeis providing the sudden-victory shootout goal. The midfielder has started in all 16 games while recording the third-most minutes (890). 
• Racking up the most playing time this year is defender Amanda Zerib who has started in all 16 contests with 977 minutes played. 
• Starting in between the pipes in each of the team's 16 games has been Ava Donahue. The Bobcat ranks fourth in the NESCAC with a .746 save percentage.

ABOUT WILLIAMS

• The #3 Ephs enter the weekend sporting just one conference loss on the year (13-2), falling to Middlebury 3-0  in the regular-season finale. The other defeat was at the hands of then-#2 Salisbury 1-0 on October 19.
• Williams is making its 23rd appearance in the NESCAC Tournament and is seeking the program's fourth crown. 
• The Ephs have advanced to the championship game seven times, most recently just a year ago as Williams fell 4-0 to the Panthers.
• Ellie Smith is the one to watch for the Ephs, leading the conference in save percentage (.815) and GAA (0.676). Smith has conceded just 10 tallies over 15 contests this fall, while sporting a NESCAC-best seven shutouts.
• Kiki Higgins is first in the league with 14 assists and paces the squad with 28 points, while Pilar Torres leads the team with eight goals. 

ABOUT TUFTS

• The #4 Jumbos are riding an eight-game winning streak heading into the semifinals, with back-to-back triumphs coming via shootouts. 
• Tufts is seeking its third NESCAC Championship, claiming league crowns in 2009 and 2016. 
• The program is looking to make it back into the title game, having advanced on seven occasions, most recently in 2022.
• The Jumbos are making their 22nd tournament appearance and own the third-most wins in the event at 26.
• Tufts owns a 14-2 mark, with its only losses coming on one-goal decisions to nationally-ranked conference foes Williams and Wesleyan. 
• Andrea DelGiudice is second in the league behind Segal with 35 points and third with 14 goals, while also tallying a trio of game-winners.
• Forwards Hannah Biccard (8G, 4A) and Kylie Rosenquest (6G, 8A) are tied for second on the squad with 20 points.
• Lydia Eastburn has started all 16 games in the cage for Tufts, ranking second in the conference in save percentage (.794) while tallying three shutouts.  

SERIES HISTORY VS. MIDDLEBURY

• Middlebury's final three regular-season games were against Tufts, Bates and Williams, respectively.
• The Jumbos snapped the Panthers 43-game unbeaten streak on October 19, claiming their first win against Middlebury since 2019 with a 2-1 triumph. If the teams were to play in the championship, it would be the 35th all-time meeting and fifth in the title tilt. 
• The Panthers and the Bobcats play for the 50th time on Saturday, in a series where Middlebury has recorded 32-straight and 45 overall. The teams have only faced each other during the quarterfinal round of the tournament, last occurring in 2021 with the Panthers earning a 4-0 shutout.
• Middlebury handed the Ephs their first NESCAC loss during a 3-0 regular-season finale. The teams matched up for the 61st time with the Panthers owning a 37-21-3 mark in the series. If the teams were to play in the championship, it would be the second-straight meeting in the title game and fourth overall. Middlebury claimed championships over Williams in three of those meetings (2003 and 2023), with the Ephs coming out on top in 2004.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

• Schedule
  • Saturday, November 9
    • Middlebury vs. Bates - 11:00 a.m.
    • Williams vs. Tufts - 1:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, November 10
    • Championship - 12:00 p.m. 
• Championship Central

The championship team earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, with the bracket being revealed on Sunday, November 10.