The Middlebury men's ice hockey trailed 3-1 nearly five minutes into Saturday's second period, but the Panthers rattled off four-consecutive goals and held off a late charge for a 5-4 triumph over Wesleyan on Senior Day. Prior to the contest, Middlebury honored seniors Sam Amato, Tucker Lamb, Jin Lee, Andrew Malatesta, Matt Myers, Jake Oblak, Wyatt Pastor, Ryan Pineault and Andrew Seaman. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers nearly got on the scoreboard 40 seconds into the first period when a wrister from Bobby May between the circles clanged off the crossbar.
• Wesleyan produced a quality chance with 5:05 expired. Tanner Kontir won an offensive zone faceoff and fired a backhanded bid that Middlebury goalie Andrew Heinze saved with his blocker.
• The Cardinals found the back of the net with 10:46 elapsed when Ethan Davidson scored on a cross-crease feed from Andrew Haxton for the 1-0 advantage.
• Wesleyan made it a 2-0 contest 1:19 later when Connor Sutherland collected a loose puck and ripped a shot into the left side of the nylon.
• The hosts cut the deficit to one (2-1) with 2:26 expired in the second period. Joe Gerebi skated into the slot, rifling a left-handed attempt over the shoulder of Cardinal goalie Patrick McDevitt.
• Wesleyan pushed its edge back to a pair when Hayden Hanes corralled the puck and muscled it over the goal line for the 3-1 advantage with 4:48 elapsed.
• Middlebury knotted the game later in the frame with two goals coming 14 seconds apart. Malatesta scored at the 13:28 mark on a one-timer from the left slot. The Panthers won the ensuing faceoff and Jack Silverman laced a rising bid that tucked under the bar to tie the game at 3-3.
• The Cardinals applied pressure in the opening minutes of the third period. With 7:49 expired, Heinze pushed across his crease and made a pair of sprawling saves on consecutive shots by Hanes to keep the game tied.
• The Panthers turned the momentum, taking a 4-3 lead at 11:18. Dante Palombo worked through traffic and fired a shot inside the left post to put the squad ahead.
• Reece Brednich gave Middlebury a two-goal cushion (5-3) with 5:35 left, going bar down after a nifty move and finding space over McDevitt's shoulder. 
• Wesleyan sliced the advantage over a minute later when Hanes scored just outside the crease.
• The Cardinals pulled McDevitt for the final 1:27 in favor of an extra skater, but Heinze held his post to deny back-to-back bids by Haxton in the waning seconds for a 5-4 triumph.

NOTES

• Gerebi and Brednich each tallied their first career goal in a blue and white uniform.
• Five different Panthers found the back of the net, led by Palombo recorded a career-best two points with a goal and an assist. 
• Jackson Morehouse posted a career-high two assists in the triumph.
• Lee won 18-of-22 at the faceoff dot, while Brednich was victorious in 11-of-20 chances.
• The programs played for the 63rd time with Middlebury holding a 43-15-5 advantage in the all-time series. 

The Panthers jump out of NESCAC play on Tuesday when they host in-state foe St. Michael's at 7:00 p.m.