Grace Keefe scored the only goal for either side during the fifth round of Saturday's shootout, leading the #1 Middlebury field hockey team to a 2-1 triumph over Hamilton. The contest was the initial league game for both programs.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers produced a scoring opportunity with 3:36 expired in the first quarter. A knuckling shot from the left side by Megan Fuqua was saved by the pads of Continental goalie Abby Griffin.
• Middlebury earned a penalty corner with less than two minutes showing on the clock. A whistling bid from inside the circle by Fuqua bounded wide of the right post.
• The visitors looked to get on the scoreboard in the opening minute of the second stanza, but Fuqua's blast from the right side after a penalty corner was blocked by a Hamilton defender.
• The Continentals recorded four penalty corners in quick succession five minutes later. The best chance came on the final insert, but Panther goalie Izzy Redzic saved a rising attempt from inside the arc by Isabelle Nahon.
• In the final minute of action, Middlebury earned a penalty corner and Fuqua laced an attempt that Griffin saved with her blocker before a rebound by Sarah Bona was blocked to keep the contest scoreless.
• The Panthers nearly got on the board with six minutes gone after halftime, but a turnaround shot by Emma McCann in front of the cage bounced outside the right post.
• Lilly Truchon dribbled to the right portion of the circle on Hamilton's next possession and ripped a bid that Redzic saved while standing on her post.
• Middlebury broke through with 8:22 gone in the quarter. Ellie Harrison inserted a pass on a penalty corner to the stick of Fuqua who blasted a shot past the outstretched leg of goalie Kelly Janssen for a 1-0 lead.
• Emma McNealy nearly increased the advantage two minutes later when she worked the ball down the goalline, but Janssen denied a flip toward the post.
• Hamilton had a quality chance with 1:12 on the clock, but Nahon's reverse sweep was steered away by McNealy.
• Continental Alden Duserick raced to a loose ball in the offensive zone with 1:55 elapsed in the fourth stanza, but Redzic stopped the scoring chance from a sharp angle.
• The hosts knotted the contest at 1-1 on a penalty corner when Nahon skipped her shot through traffic inside the right post with 10:40 left in regulation.
• The sides each had an opportunity in the final minutes, but Fuqua's attempt was tipped by a defender over the crossbar and Claire Tratnyek's centering shot was kicked away by Redzic.
• Neither team was able to break through in the two overtime sessions.
• In the shootout that featured a best-of-five round format, Redzic and Janssen each made three saves during the initial four rounds with the other attempts off target.  
• The fifth opportunity saw the Panther goalie make a diving stop on Nahon's reverse sweep headed toward the left post.
• Keefe stepped to the ball and dribbled toward Janssen, spinning around and firing a shot that hit the back of the cage to give Middlebury the 2-1 victory.

NOTES

• Redzic concluded the contest with a career-high five saves, including a pair in the fourth quarter.
• Fuqua's goal was her third of the season, while Harrison secured her first assist this fall.
• Middlebury and Hamilton squared off for the 27th time with the Panthers holding a 23-4 advantage in the all-time series. The Panthers have won the last nine matchups.

Middlebury remains in Clinton, New York for a 12:00 p.m. contest on Sunday against #15 Bryn Mawr on Hamilton's campus.