Skip To Main Content

Middlebury College

Official Athletics Site of the middlebury college panthers
All Events
WIHGoalCelebration24PlattsburghNCAAQtr
Will Costello

#6 Middlebury Continues Pursuit Of Program’s Fifth NCAA Title At Frozen Four

The Middlebury women's ice hockey team will travel to Wisconsin to take on Elmira in the NCAA Semifinals.
The sixth-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team will battle 14th-ranked Elmira in the NCAA Semifinals with a spot in the national championship game on the line. The teams will face off on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 p.m., while #1 Wisconsin-River Falls hosts #3 Adrian at 7:00 p.m. 
 
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY
  • Middlebury is making its 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and is looking to claim its fifth national championship. 
  • The Panthers have reached the semifinals 10 times and have advanced to the title tilt on six occasions.
  • Middlebury won its fourth NCAA Championship in 2022, concluding the season with an unblemished 27-0-0 overall record. The program was the first across any division in women's ice hockey to finish a season with an undefeated mark. 
  • This year, the Panthers claimed their 12th NESCAC Title to secure an automatic bid to the national tournament. Middlebury defeated Williams 4-1 in the quarterfinal round, before shutting out then-#10 Colby 3-0 and then-#8 Hamilton 4-0 in NESCAC Semifinal and Title games, respectively.  
  • The Panthers reached the NCAA Semifinals by defeating Western New England (WNE) 8-0 in the opening round, before rushing past #4 Plattsburgh State 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
  • The Panthers have played 14 nationally-ranked opponents this year, owning a 6-4-4 mark. 
  • Middlebury is ranked in the top-20 spots in multiple categories this winter. The Panthers are tied for fifth in team shutouts (10), and rank 11th in scoring defense (1.25), 16th in winning percentage (.714), 18th in assists (114) and 20th in penalty killing percentage (.918).
  • Heading into Friday's contest, the Panthers have recorded four-straight shutouts.
PANTHERS TO WATCH
  • Avery McInerny, an All-NESCAC Second Team honoree, has paced Middlebury offensively this year. McInerny is tied for the league lead in assists with 15 and is third in the conference with a team-high 23 points. The Panther has also tallied eight goals, including two against WNE in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. 
  • Kate Flynn has found the back of the goal a team-high 15 times, which is second-most in the conference, while recording 21 points. The first-year also leads the squad with five game-winning tallies. Last weekend, Flynn scored the second marker in the Panthers' 2-0 NCAA Quarterfinal victory over Plattsburgh State.
  • Blueliner Callia Ferraris has been a key contributor on both sides of the puck this winter. Ferraris was an All-NESCAC Second Team selection and is fourth on the team in points (16) and helpers (12).
  • Tied with McInerny for most assists in the NESCAC is Sabrina Kim, recording 15. The Panther is second on the team with 32 blocked shots and third with 17 points. Cece Ziegler has also tallied double-digit points this year with 13 assists and leads the team with 38 blocked shots.
  • In between the pipes, Sophia Will has been tremendous this season. The goaltender is third in Division III with eight shutouts which is tied for second on Middlebury's single-season list. The netminder ranks eighth in the country in save percentage (.954) and goals against average (GAA) with 1.038. In her last four games, the netminder has been on fire, stopping all 101 shots faced over 239:50 minutes of action.
ABOUT ELMIRA
  • Elmira enters the final four with a 22-7-1 overall record and is making its 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 
  • The Soaring Eagles are attempting to win their fourth national title and first since 2013.
  • The squad has reached the semifinal round 12 times and made it to the final on seven occasions.
  • Elmira advanced to the frozen four by upsetting #7 SUNY Cortland 3-1 in the opening round of the national tournament, before downing #5 Amherst 2-1 in overtime in quarterfinal action.
  • The Soaring Eagles earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament after winning the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Championship 2-0 over the University of Southern Maine. 
  • The Soaring Eagles are second in scoring defense, allowing just .90 goals per game this season. Elmira is also fourth in Division III in a host of statistical categories, including assists (179), goals (117), scoring margin (3.00), scoring offense (3.90), faceoff win percentage (.614) and points (296).
SOARING EAGLES TO WATCH
  • Four players have registered over 20 points for the Soaring Eagles this season. Erika Goleniak leads the team in points (32), assists (18) and goals (14), while Claire Meeder is second with 25 points (12G, 13A). 
  • Anna Lugge (10G, 14A) and Emily Lenzen (10G, 13A) were crucial in the quarterfinal victory over Amherst. Lugge provided assists on both of Elmira's goals, while Lenzen scored the game-winning marker in overtime and added a helper on the opening tally.
  • Defensively, Madi Morton is second on the team with 13 blocked shots and has tallied 18 points this year (4G, 14A).
  • Leonie-Louise Kuehberger and Chloe Beaubien have split time in goal for the Soaring Eagles. Kuehberger has started 18 contests, owning a .941 save percentage and a .94 GAA, which is fifth in the country. Beaubien has appeared in 13 games and has been superb, allowing .57 goals per game and boasting a .966 save percentage. Against Amherst, Beaubien made 43 stops in nearly 70 minutes of action. The pair have combined for 13 shutouts this season. 
SERIES HISTORY
  • Middlebury and Elmira face off for the 28th time with the Panthers holding a 13-10-4 advantage in the series.
  • The programs have met five times in the NCAA Tournament with Middlebury holding a 3-2 edge.
  • The Panthers and the Soaring Eagles last met in the NCAA Tournament in the 2022 semifinals, where Middlebury emerged with a 3-2 victory. 
  • The programs have faced off in the national championship game on two occasions, with each team claiming a victory. In 2005, the Panthers defeated Elmira 4-3, while the Soaring Eagles squeaked out a 1-0 win in the 2013 final.
ABOUT WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS
  • Wisconsin-River Falls reached the NCAA Tournament with a 2-1 overtime victory against Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) O'Brien Cup Title. 
  • The Falcons are making their 15th appearance in the national tournament and sixth in the semifinal round. The team has reached the NCAA Championship just once before, falling to Plattsburgh State 5-1 in 2016.
  • Wisconsin-River Falls has been dominant this season, boasting an unblemished 29-0-0 overall record, and is looking to become just the second squad across any division to finish the season unbeaten.
  • The Falcons claimed their spot in the frozen four by defeating #2 Gustavus Adolphus 2-1 in the NCAA Quarterfinal.
  • If Middlebury and Wisconsin-River Falls face off in the NCAA Championship, it would be the fifth matchup between the two programs, with the Panthers holding a 3-1-0 advantage. The teams have met just once in NCAA Tournament action, with Middlebury earning a 3-2 triumph in the third-place game in 2009.
  • Maddie McCollins has been an offensive dynamo for the Falcons. The forward leads the nation in points (62) and goals (32) and sits tied for second in assists (30). 
  • Joining her is Megan Goodreau who is second on the team in points (47) and goals (17) and is tied for the team-lead with 30 helpers.
ABOUT ADRIAN 
  • Adrian earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament by defeating St. Norbert 2-0 in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NHCA) Slaats Cup Championship. 
  • The team is making its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and is looking to secure a place in the final for the second time in program history. 
  • This season, the Bulldogs own a 28-2-0 overall mark and were undefeated (16-0-0) in conference play. Wisconsin River-Falls is one of just two teams to beat Adrian, claiming a 7-5 victory on November 30. 
  • The Bulldogs punched their ticket to the NCAA Semifinal with a resounding 4-1 victory over #7 Hamilton in the quarterfinal round. 
  • If Middlebury and Adrian play in the national championship, it would be the fourth-ever meeting between the teams, with Adrian holding a 2-0-1 edge. The two teams have never met in postseason play.
  • Une Bjelland leads all of Division III in assists, tallying 32 this year. She also paces the squad and is second in the nation in points (59) and goals (27).
  • Maya Roy has contributed on both offense and defense this season. The defender is second on the team in points (39), assists (27) and blocked shots (23) and third with 12 markers.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
  • Tickets
    • Tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. Youth ages two and under are free. 
    • All-session tickets will be $25 for adults and $15 for students/seniors.
    • All tickets will be sold at the Hunt Arena ticket office. The ticket window will open 90 minutes prior to the opening game on Friday. 
  • Tournament Bracket
  • Championship Central
The winner of Friday's game will face the winner of #1 Wisconsin-River Falls and #3 Adrian in the NCAA Title game on Sunday, March 17 at 4:00 p.m.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Sponsors