The #4 Middlebury women's ice hockey battled back to tie the contest 1-1 early in the third period, but #3 Amherst responded and tacked on an empty-netter for a 3-1 win in a tightly-contested NCAA Semifinal matchup. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Mammoths had the first quality scoring chance 1:28 into the opening period. Cara Mancini ripped a turnaround shot from the right boards that was caught by the glove of netminder Sophia Will.
• Three minutes later, Middlebury had an opportunity when Molly MacQueen looped a knuckling shot from just inside the blueline that was saved by Amherst goalie Natalie Stott.
• The Panthers continued to buzz the zone, as a shot on the rush by MacQueen with 7:30 gone was blocked by a Mammoth defender.
• Middlebury kept up the pressure, nearly getting on the board with 6:20 remaining. A rising bid from the left point from Cece Ziegler was stopped by the right pad of Stott.
• Amherst manufactured an opportunity in the waning seconds of the opening stanza when Bea Flynn sent a shot from the left circle that Will stopped and covered up.
• The Mammoths nearly scored 1:08 into the second frame, but Will sprawled out and made the save on a wrister from Sami Lester.
• Five minutes later, an attempt from Raia Schluter from the left dot was thwarted by Stott's body.
• Seconds later, Flynn lifted a wrister on the rush that was denied by Will's shoulder.
• Middlebury had a bid with 12:21 left in the period, but Avery McInerny's chance from close range was denied by Stott's blocker.
• After both sides killed off extra-skater opportunities, Kylie Quinlan roped a shot with 1:56 left that sailed high.
• With 1:47 expired in the final frame, Cat Appleyard threatened, but her two-on-one chance sailed just wide of the goal.
• The Mammoths broke through 10 seconds later, as Alyssa Xu muscled in a rebound or a 1-0 edge during a power play.
• Middlebury answered at the 7:30 mark when Ziegler fired a one-timer from the point that deflected off a defender and tucked under the crossbar to tie the contest at 1-1.
• With 13:03 elapsed, the Mammoths took advantage of a turnover and Xu beat Will to make it 2-1.
• With under two minutes to go, the Panthers pulled Will in favor of the extra skater. The best chance came with 1:14 remaining, but Kate Flynn's bid from point-blank range was smothered by Stott.
• Amherst added an empty-net tally with 50 seconds remaining to clinch the 3-1 victory and a spot in the national championship game.

NOTES

• MacQueen skated in her 100th career game.
• Middlebury made its 20th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the semifinals for the 11th time. 
• The programs played for the fourth time this season and the 69th time overall with Middlebury holding a 39-13-17 advantage in the series.
• Amherst has claimed both NCAA Semifinal meetings against the Panthers. 

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

The Panthers finish the season with a 21-7-1 overall mark, marking the 14th time the program has claimed 21 victories or more in a campaign.