The #3/second-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team scored twice in the final two minutes of the third period to blank #9/third-seeded Colby 3-0 in the NESCAC Semifinals. With the victory, the Panthers advance to Sunday's championship game, taking on #6/top-seeded Amherst at 2:00 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Mules attempted to get on the board with 6:27 expired in the first period off a shot between the circles from Anya Jiang that netminder Sophia Will stopped. 
• Audrey Shirer ripped a shot from the top of the right circle, but Will poked it aside at the 7:57 mark.
• Middlebury looked to score with 1:03 elapsed when Kate Flynn fired on net, but goalie Mandy Busky got a piece of her shoulder on the puck to deny the bid.
• Jiang had another quality chance 1:35 into the second period when she ripped a shot that bounced off of Will into the crease, but Will corralled the rebound to keep the Mules off the board. 
• Alison Giebler fired a shot from the point at the 5:35 mark when Busky was screened by a Panther, but Busky was able to make the stop through traffic.
• Middlebury broke through with 9:33 remaining. Olivia McManus blasted a shot from the point that Kylie Quinlan redirected past Busky for a 1-0 Panther lead.
• Colby nearly tied the game in the final 10 seconds off a shot from the right faceoff circle by Molly Lefebvre, but Will got her stick on the puck to preserve the one-goal advantage.
• The Mules had a quality look for the equalizer with 7:34 left in the game. Breanna Studley tried to sneak the puck past Will on the left post, but Will denied the bid with her stick.
• Zoe Pincelli had a breakaway opportunity at the 18:12 mark. She faked an attempt on the left side of Busky before shooting right to give Middlebury a 2-0 advantage. 
• Colby pulled Busky with 1:38 remaining in the game in favor of the extra skater, but were unable to muster up any quality chances.
• Sabrina Kim added an empty-netter with 19 ticks left on the clock to secure the 3-0 Panther triumph.

NOTES

• Will recorded 27 saves in her 12th career shutout.
• Pincelli's goal was her first of the season.
• The programs met for the 69th time with Middlebury holding a 54-14-1 advantage. 

The defending champion Panthers and the #6/top-seeded Mammoths play for the NESCAC Title at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. This marks the 10th time the teams have faced off for the championship, with Middlebury winning seven of those.