The #1 Middlebury women's lacrosse team trailed #7 Wesleyan several times on Saturday, but a fourth-quarter hat trick by Kelcey Dion lifted the Panthers to a 10-9 triumph. The win was the program's 60th straight dating back to 2022. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Cardinals struck first as Dylan Green drove toward the goal with a defender on her shoulder and slotted her shot inside the right panel for the 1-0 edge at the 12:18 mark.
• Middlebury answered less than a minute later when Maggie Coughlin came from behind the net and scored to make it 1-1.
• The Panthers took their first lead of the contest with less than five minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Caroline Adams darted from the top of the arc and found nylon through a sea of white for the 2-1 edge.
• Wesleyan rattled off four unanswered tallies, starting with a player-up spinaround goal from Sam DeLeo with 3:22 left in the first frame. Green won a one-on-one battle with a defender to bury her ball, before back-to-back markers from Elle Priesing extended the advantage to 5-2 with 8:08 showing on the second-quarter clock.
• Middlebury sliced the deficit to one (5-4) with a pair of goals to close the stanza. Skylar Lach converted a free position from the center hash, before Kylie Wilson maneuvered her stick around a defender and scored from the doorstep.
• The Panthers carried their momentum into the third session, tallying two in a row. Adams bounced in a free position and Lach had a catch-and-score to give Middlebury a 6-5 edge.
• Wesleyan responded with three unanswered tallies to regain the lead. Alix Riley started the span with a low sidearm shot from the left side, before Priesing scored with a quick stick, and Green converted a free position for the 8-6 advantage. 
• With 1:25 left on the third quarter clock, Shue tucked a free-position bid inside the right pipe to cut the deficit to one (8-7).
• Dion tallied a free position from the center hash, before depositing a shot while falling to the ground to get things going and give Middlebury a 9-8 edge at the 9:22 mark.
• The Cardinals answered with 5:17 to go as DeLeo came from behind the goal and slipped her shot in, knotting the contest at nine goals apiece.
• Dion could not be stopped, fending off a pair of defenders and finding nylon with an over-the-head shot at the 3:15 mark for the 10-9 lead.
• With 1:29 to go, Wesleyan earned a yellow card. The Panthers tried to run off the clock, but Bridget Horst caused a turnover and the Cardinals called a timeout.
• Just 21 ticks remained on the clock as Wesleyan tried to come up with the game-tying goal, but Shue caused a turnover and scooped up the groundball to secure the 10-9 triumph. 

NOTES

• Wilson's goal was the first in her career.
• Shue scooped up five rollers, caused three turnovers and dished out three points (1G, 2A).
• The teams played for the 26th time with Middlebury claiming each.  

The Panthers have a quick turnaround, traveling to Hamilton on Sunday for a noon start.