The fourth-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team outdueled Bowdoin in a goal-filled second period to earn a 2-1 triumph on Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The contest's first shot on target came with 10:12 expired in the opening period. Molly Cataldo skated through the faceoff circle and sent a bid toward the right side of the goal that Panther netminder Sophia Will ushered away.
• With 7:04 remaining, Trinity Walsh skated toward the right post and fired an attempt across the crease that Polar Bear goaltender Abby Matusovich saved with her pad.
• Will was tested late in the stanza, denying four Bowdoin chances in the span of 3:18 to maintain the scoreless tie. The final opportunity came when Luna Lu fired a shot from the left faceoff dot that Will stopped on the post.
• Alyssa Frazier nearly pushed her side in front just nine seconds into the second period. Avery McInerny secured the puck off the opening faceoff and pushed a feed back to Frazier, who had her look intended for the upper-left corner saved by Matusovich with an extended stick.
• The visitors pulled ahead on a power-play tally with 15:23 left in the session. Kate Flynn fired a shot from the outer edge of the right circle that Matusovich kicked away with her right pad. Olivia Gordon collected the rebound and pushed the puck across the goal line to establish the 1-0 Middlebury lead.
• With 6:45 showing on the clock, Caroline Thomas darted down the right side and warded off a Polar Bear defender before dialing up a riser that Matusovich knocked down and covered for the save.
• Bowdoin broke through to tie the game (1-1) at the 17:29 mark. Maddie Wojciak found Lu behind the Panther line, who worked her way to the crease and faked left before pulling the puck back and depositing it in the right side.
• The guests wasted no time turning up the pressure as Gordon fired a pair of point-blank bids that Matusovich interrupted with 1:56 left.
• The decisive score came just 42 seconds later. Walsh battled to secure a feed from McInerny between the circles, sending a quick shot past Matusovich and over the line, pushing the navy and white ahead 2-1.
• Bella Mele nearly restored the deadlock with 4:09 played in the third, lifting her stick to redirect a pass in front of the goal. Despite an odd carom, Will snapped her left pad out in time to make the stop.
• Middlebury had opportunities to add to the lead over the ensuing six minutes. The best chance was a one-on-one between Flynn and Matusovich that saw the goalie extend her blocker to guide a shot out of harm's way.
• The Polar Bears pulled Matusovich for the final 1:57 in favor of an extra skater. The final opportunity came with 1:14 remaining when Mele gathered a loose puck and aimed for the lower-left corner. The bid bounced off Will's right pad and up over the goal before being ushered away to finalize the 2-1 triumph.

NOTES

• McInerny tallied her 50th assist as a Panther in the win.
• Zoe Pincelli won 11 of her 13 faceoff attempts.
• The programs played for the 83rd time, as Saturday's win was Middlebury's 60th in the series.

The Panthers make a brief return to Chip Kenyon '85 Arena on Tuesday, January 27 against SUNY Potsdam at 7:00 p.m.