The second-ranked Middlebury field hockey team held eighth-ranked Williams without a shot in the second half and
Claire McMichael logged a decisive first-quarter tally to power the Panthers' 1-0 win in Tuesday evening's regular-season finale from Peter Kohn Field.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Ephs earned the contest's first penalty corner with 4:53 played. Haley McAuslin nearly capitalized with a sharp bid toward the left panel. Middlebury goalkeeper Izzy Redzic dove and tipped the chance out of play with her stick.
- McMichael got the scoring started with 2:47 left in the opening frame, working her way into the circle and uncorking a shot that thumped the bottom portion of the goal for a 1-0 edge.
- With 13:39 expired in the second quarter, Keira Harder lifted a shot with eyes on the netting. Redzic batted the bid down before contact with a foot sent play the other direction.
- McAuslin nearly tied the tilt in the closing seconds of the first half on a near-identical chance from the first quarter, but Redzic ushered the bid away to maintain the 1-0 lead at halftime.
- The navy and white carried the same pressure into the third session. McMichael collected a blocked shot and delivered a riser that caught the crossbar before Megan Fuqua thumped goalie Ellie Smith's pad and bounded out of play with 7:11 elapsed.
- Emma McCann and McMichael each tested the Ephs' goalie in the final minute of the third quarter, but the junior denied each chance to send the 1-0 contest into the fourth frame.
- The Panthers stifled the purple and gold over the final 15 minutes to finalize the 1-0 triumph.
NOTES
- McMichael's goal marked her fifth of the campaign and the fifth game-winning tally of her career.
- Redzic turned away each of the three shots she faced, while Madeline DiLemme closed out the final 30 minutes of the contest.
- Middlebury touts a 94-6 record over its last 100 games on Peter Kohn Field.
- The Panthers and Ephs squared off for the 63rd installment of the all-time series, with Middlebury leading 39-21-3.
- The navy and white own a nine-game winning streak against Williams.
The NESCAC Field Hockey Tournament seedings will be announced on Wednesday morning after the final regular-season conference contest concludes.
