The Middlebury men's ice hockey team scored once in the opening two periods to defeat Williams 2-0 on Saturday night. The game served as the Panthers' Skate for Sarcoma Game, aimed at raising awareness for sarcoma cancer in honor of Catherine J. Malatesta, the beloved sister of Andrew Malatesta.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Ephs attempted to get on the board seven minutes into the first frame when Liam Jones sent a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle, but his bid was thwarted by goalie Andrew Heinze.
• With 3:28 left on the clock, John Burdett ripped a shot from the point that rang off the pipe.
• Jake McManus fired a shot from the boards with 17:42 elapsed that Heinze made the blocker save on.
• The Panthers broke through with 1:24 remaining on the clock. Jin Lee fired a shot that netminder Cal Sandquist initially saved, but the puck found Wyatt Pastor's skate and bounced off of it into the goal for the 1-0 lead.
• Christian Wood looked to increase the Middlebury advantage 3:16 into the second stanza, but his point-blank range shot was saved by Sandquist.
• The Panthers doubled their lead at the 7:37 mark of the middle period with a shorthanded two-on-one opportunity. Malatesta delivered a pass to Reece Brednich at the right faceoff dashes, who ripped a shot over Sandquist's glove for a 2-0 advantage.
• Middlebury had a five-on-three chance with under five minutes remaining, mustering five shots on net during the span. Pastor fired a one-timer from the dot, but Sandquist hindered the attempt with 4:16 remaining.
• Bobby Corkery looked to cut the deficit with 30 ticks left off a blistering shot from the point, but Heinze made the glove save.
• Tucker Lamb fired a shot from between the circles 32 seconds into the third period that Sandquist stopped with his shoulder.
• Lee ripped a one-timer in front of the net at the 12:45 mark, but Sandquist scooped the puck up to make the save.
• The Panthers earned a powerplay in the final 1:52 of the game, but the Ephs' defense held strong as Middlebury triumphed 2-0. 

NOTES

• Heinze tallied a career-high 45 saves.
• The programs met for the 144th time with the Panthers holding an 82-50-12 advantage.

Middlebury returns home on Friday when it hosts Amherst at 7:00 p.m.