The second-ranked Middlebury women's lacrosse team began its national title defense with a 20-5 victory over #22 Ithaca on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers jumped out to an early lead with 2:47 expired in the first quarter. Caroline Adams worked her way toward goalie Mikaela Dattilo before bouncing a shot past the Bomber for the 1-0 lead.
• Adams scored again 1:13 later on a free-position attempt, while Hope Shue made it a 3-0 contest at the 10:13 mark on a bid into the upper-right corner.
• The hosts kept their foot on the accelerator over the initial stanza, finding the back of the net seven more times to increase the advantage to 10-0 and force running time. Shue, Adams and Skylar Lach highlighted the span with a pair of goals each.
• Middlebury continued its offensive precision in the second frame, kickstarted by Kelcey Dion weaving past her defender before burying her shot into the right panel with 3:17 elapsed. 
• Shue completed her hat trick five minutes later when she fired a shot inside the left post before scoring 1:50 later on a nifty assist by Adams for a 13-0 lead.
• Dion converted her second free-position tally of the day, while Maggie Coughlin closed the half on a give-and-go with Shue for a 15-0 advantage.
• Ithaca got on the scoreboard with 13:33 showing on the third-quarter clock. Hayley Armstong sent a pass from behind the goal to a cutting Kathryn Scallon who tucked her shot into the right side.
• The Panthers recorded the next three markers, including a pair from Jamee Numan for an 18-1 lead.
• Kelly Augeri fired a quick-stick tally for the Bombers on a feed from Armstrong to make it a 16-goal contest with 3:17 remaining.
• Middlebury posted the ensuing two goals by Maeve Lee and Maddie Ocampo for a 20-2 lead with 12:27 left.
• Ithaca tallied the final three markers of the contest, including two from Augeri, for the 20-5 decision. 

NOTES

• The Panthers had 10 different goal scorers in the triumph, paced by four from Shue.
• Shue has recorded a point in 60-consecutive games dating back to the 2022 season.
• Coughlin tied her career high with four assists as part of a seven-point day (3G, 4A).
• Mackenzie Smith matched her career best by winning four draw controls.
• Numan posted a season-best four points with two goals and a pair of helpers.
• The Panthers and Ithaca have played three times with all of them coming in the NCAA Tournament. Middlebury won by a 19-3 count in the 2008 NCAA First Round, while the Panthers secured a 14-7 triumph in the same round in 2011.

Middlebury faces #21 University of Chicago in the NCAA Third Round next Saturday on Peter Kohn Field.