Middlebury College

The second-ranked Middlebury field hockey team scored three goals in the first 8:57 of Wednesday's contest against Skidmore, easing to a 6-0 triumph over the Thoroughbreds on Peter Kohn Field.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Claire McMichael ripped a reverse sweep past goalie Nicole Sylvestri into the netting 1:38 into the opening quarter to give the Panthers the lead.
• Middlebury increased its advantage three minutes later when McMichael found the back of the cage, muscling a bid past Sylvestri following a nifty long ball from Megan Fuqua.
• With 8:57 expired, Addie Chandler dribbled through the defense, firing a shot into the lower-left portion for a 3-0 lead.
• The Thoroughbreds had their best chance of the half a minute later following a penalty corner. Colby Paul collected a ball near the top of the circle, ripping a blast that Panther goalie Izzy Redzic saved with her pads.
• In the initial moments of the second frame, Hadley Torre sent an attempt that was destined for space inside the right post, but defender Gianna DiGioacchino swatted the ball away to earn the defensive save.
• The Panthers pushed their edge to 4-0 with 3:15 elapsed. Chandler redirected a long pass from Emma McNealy, lifting the ball up and over the shoulder of Sylvestri.
• Skidmore's Molly Van Vranken dribbled along the goal line and toward Redzic five minutes later, but the Middlebury backstop charged off her line and slid to make the save.
• The hosts had a final chance with 1:10 left before the half, but a reverse sweep off the stick of Ally Kennedy whizzed over the crossbar.
• Chandler stepped to the dot for a penalty stroke with 2:13 elapsed, capping her hat trick and making it 5-0 when she deposited her shot into the lower-left corner.
• Torre manufactured a pair of looks over the remainder of the frame, with her best coming with 2:15 illuminated on the clock. She raced down the middle of the field, rifling a bid that goalie Allison Morgan scooted off her line to save.
• The Panthers added a sixth marker with 6:59 left in the contest. Emma McCann bolted down the right side, working toward the middle. The midfielder looped a pass that deflected off a defender's stick and back to McCann who bounced the ball under Morgan's pads for the final 6-0 decision. 

NOTES

• Chandler's hat trick is the first of her career, while her six-point output is her best in the navy and white uniform.
• McCann matched her collegiate single-game highs with two goals and four points in the victory.
• Eliza Cho notched her second career helper.
• Middlebury and Skidmore played for the 54th installment with the Panthers holding a 47-7 advantage in the all-time series. 

Middlebury returns to action on Saturday when it travels to #20 Bates for a 12:00 p.m. NESCAC contest.