The #3/second-seeded Middlebury women's ice hockey team conceded a goal in the third period and could not find the equalizer as #6/top-seeded Amherst claimed the NESCAC Championship 1-0. This marked the 10th meeting between the programs in the title tilt, with the Panthers hoisting the trophy seven times.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury had the first quality look of the contest with 3:34 expired. Molly MacQueen sent a pass from the right pipe to Raia Schluter, who was barreling toward the goal, but Schluter's shot slid  just wide left.
• At the 4:44 mark, the Panthers earned a power-play and had a flurry of shots on goal. Netminder Natalie Stott butterflied out to deny three-consecutive attempts and keep Middlebury off the board.
• The Mammoths had a great chance to score with 6:14 elapsed in the middle frame as Kelsey Stewart and Bea Flynn broke in with a two-on-one, but Flynn's bid sailed wide right.
• Less than 20 seconds later, Amherst was called for a penalty, and the Panthers had a good chance during the power play at the 6:56 mark. Britt Nawrocki sent a pass to Jordan Hower on the left pipe, but a defender wedged herself between Hower and the goal to block the chance and clear away the puck.
• A Middlebury penalty with just under two minutes left in the period fueled the Mammoths. The squad peppered goalie Sophia Will, nearly scoring on back-to-back bids with just over a minute to go. Will laid out to stop the flurry, and thwarted a tip-in attempt by Emily Hohmann. 
• Amherst had a trio of shots in the final seconds of the stanza, but the Panthers kept the hosts at bay as the clock expired.
• The Mammoths came out of the break strong, taking a 1-0 edge with 5:22 elapsed. Ayla Abban carried the puck down the left boards and sent a pass from behind the goal that set up Flynn with the one-timer from the doorstep. 
• Middlebury nearly tallied the equalizer just over a minute later. Calia Ferraris sent a pass backwards to Hower just inside the blue line at the top of the circles. Hower's slap shot trickled through traffic, but Stott denied Cat Appleyard's redirect attempt.
• The Panthers had a power play beginning at the 8:17 mark, but Amherst stood strong and allowed just one shot during the span.
• Middlebury pulled Will with 1:41 remaining for an extra skater. The Panthers tallied five attempts but the Mammoth defense thwarted each as Amherst hung on for the 1-0 win. 

NOTES

• This marked the third meeting of the season between the teams and 68th overall. Earlier this winter, Middlebury won 2-1 in a shootout on the first night, before claiming a 3-1 triumph in the second game.
• The programs have met 10 times in the NESCAC Championship and are the only teams to have claimed the last four titles.

With the triumph, the Mammoths earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Middlebury, who entered the day ranked #1 in the NPI rankings, awaits its playoff fate when the bracket is announced on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on ncaa.com.