The seventh-ranked Middlebury field hockey team fell by a 2-1 decision against #5 Tufts on Saturday from Peter Kohn Field. Before the game, the program honored seniors Sarah Bona, Georgianne Defeo, Ellie Harrison, Grace Keefe, Thea Rosenzweig and Madaket Rzepka.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Rosenzweig made two saves early in a scoreless initial quarter, including the denial of a strong Jumbos bid with 7:01 elapsed. Eleanor Luft sent a penalty corner blast that the senior goalie kicked away.
• Middlebury put together a strong chance with 9:32 remaining in the second session. Megan Fuqua settled an insert and blasted an attempt that Tufts goalie Lydia Eastburn stopped with her right blocker.
• The Jumbos nearly scored with 26:50 gone. Eleanor Helm drove into the circle and flipped a bid backwards that Middlebury goalie Izzy Redzic denied. Hannah Murray fired a quick shot on the rebound that clanged off the right post and out of the circle.
• Tufts broke through at the 27:18 mark. Helm delivered a sharp insert to Claire Casey, who blasted the ball into the left side of the cage to establish a 1-0 edge.
• Emma McCann manufactured a chance with 37:47 expired, poking the ball through three Tufts defenders before finding Rzepka on the left post. Eastburn dove in front to turn away the quick look.
• With 5:37 to go in the third stanza, Scarlett Carpenter darted down the right sideline and found Murray unmarked for a one-on-one with Redzic in the circle. The Panther stepped out to boot the bid away for the save.
• The guests added to their advantage at the 48:23 mark. Ellie Wilkins found Helm darting into the circle, who tapped a look into the right corner for the 2-0 advantage.
• McCann sliced the margin to one with 8:31 remaining off a rebound of a blocked shot that snuck into the right side to set the score at 2-1.
• With 4:37 to go, Keefe had a try that ricocheted off a Jumbo stick and into the air. Camille Clarke aided her side, lifting her stick and deflecting the ball away for a defensive save.
• Keefe and Tessa Herbst each placed shots on target in the final four minutes, but Tufts held strong defensively to secure the 2-1 decision.

NOTES

• McCann logged her fifth marker of the campaign.
• The programs squared off in the 36th matchup of the series.

The Panthers conclude their three-game homestand against #6 Bates on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 11:00 a.m.