The top-ranked Middlebury women's lacrosse team tallied the first nine goals of Saturday's contest on its way to a 16-3 victory over Bowdoin in the Panthers' home opener. The victory was the 31st-straight overall and the 17th-consecutive triumph on Peter Kohn Field with each respective streak dating back to the 2022 season.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers got on the scoreboard 1:52 into the first quarter when Caroline Adams snuck a bouncing shot past Bowdoin goalie Caroline Clinton.
• Middlebury rattled off the next eight goals of the contest, including the second of the game by Adams and two tallies each from Hope Shue and Skylar Lach for a 9-0 lead after the opening frame. Maggie Coughlin scored a goal during the run and assisted on two others.
• The Polar Bears made it a 9-1 contest when Sophia Sudano ripped a free-position shot into the top corner of the goal while a player up with 8:45 left before halftime.
• Susan Rowley tallied her second goal of the contest just over a minute later, rifling a quick-stick attempt into the upper-left corner following a pass from Charlotte Price.
• Bowdoin cut the deficit to eight (10-2) with 11 seconds left before halftime when Annie Moore sent a bouncing bid into the lower-left corner.
• The Panthers tallied the only three goals in the third quarter. Shue assisted Coughlin on scores with 12:40 and 11:07 remaining, while Rowley completed her hat trick with a quick move to her left before tucking the ball inside the left post for a 13-2 edge.
• The visitors scored 13 seconds into the final frame as Lauren Burke worked past a defender and ripped a shot inside the right post.
• Middlebury closed the contest with the last three goals. Adams tallied her third of the game with 12:39 left, while Jamee Numan recorded her first goal of the year on a free-position chance and Kate Motley scored on an individual effort for the final 16-3 tally.

NOTES

• Gina Driscoll and Elizabeth Savage split time in front of the Panther goal. Driscoll improved to 3-0 and played the first and third quarters, while Savage had five saves in the second and fourth stanzas. 
• Shue (3G, 2A), Adams (3G, 2A) and Coughlin (3G, 2A) each had five-point games in the triumph, while Rowley ended with three goals and a helper. 
• Adams also claimed a season-best 10 draw controls in the victory.  
• The programs played for the 46th time with Middlebury holding a 41-5 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last nine meetings.

The Panthers return to action next Saturday when they travel to Bates for a 12:00 p.m. contest with the Bobcats.