The seventh-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team scored 11:36 into Saturday's first period on its way to a 1-0 victory over Williams in Chip Kenyon '85 Arena. The Panthers completed the weekend home-and-home sweep over the Ephs, tallying a pair of matching 1-0 wins to secure six crucial NESCAC points. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury came out buzzing in the offensive zone in the initial minutes, producing a solid chance 2:06 into action when a one-timer by Raia Schluter from the left circle was denied by Williams netminder Erin Pye.
• The Panthers continued to apply pressure, breaking through with 11:36 elapsed. Kate Flynn intercepted an errant pass in the neutral zone and skated through traffic. Working toward the right circle, she rifled a wrister into the right side of the net for the 1-0 lead.
• The Ephs looked for the equalizer late in the period, but a bid from Keira Harder from a sharp angle was saved by the right pad of Panther goalie Sophia Will to keep it a one-goal edge.
• Middlebury had a quality opportunity 3:24 into second-period play when Schluter skated onto a loose puck just inside the blueline, but her bid whistled just wide.
• Nearly eight minutes later, Williams earned a power-play chance and Quinn Dawson rifled a shot straight after the faceoff that was denied by Will.
• The Panthers looked to increase their lead with 2:32 showing on the clock, but a rising shot by Callia Ferraris from in between the circles was thwarted by Pye's blocker.
• In the early stages of the third frame, Audrey Lazar nearly extended the Middlebury advantage, but Pye denied a pair of chances from just outside the crease.
• The hosts created another bid with 10:13 remaining when a pass took a funny bounce off the end boards and squirted out in front, but Lazar's one-timer from the low slot was pushed aside by Pye.
• Middlebury skated five-on-three for 1:26 near the midway point of the period, but the Ephs killed off the opportunity to keep within striking distance. 
• Williams produced a good chance with 3:50 left on a sharp-angled bid from the left side by Chloe Noxon, but Will padded it away.
• The Ephs pulled Pye with 1:11 left, but the Panther defense stood its ground and preserved the 1-0 home victory. 

NOTES

• Will tallied 20 saves to earn her fourth shutout this season and the fifth of her career.
• The goal by Flynn was her team-best ninth and the second game-winning score this winter.
• The Panthers remain unbeaten in seven-straight meetings (6-0-1) against Williams, improving to 78-6-5 overall in the series. 

Middlebury continues its season-ending homestand on Friday when it welcomes #8 Hamilton at 7:00 p.m.