Tied 5-5 at the halftime break, the #1/top-seeded Middlebury women's lacrosse team outscored #11/fourth-seeded Trinity 8-3 in Saturday's final two quarters for a 13-8 triumph in NESCAC Semifinal action at Peter Kohn Field.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Middlebury jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with 2:14 expired in the first quarter. Maddie Ackerman scored a player-up tally following a quick pass from Caroline Adams with 53 seconds expired, while Haley Hamilton tucked her shot into the left panel while a player down.
- Trinity pulled within one at the 8:24 mark when Kaeley Zito tucked her attempt under the crossbar.
- The Panthers increased their lead nearly two minutes later (3-1). Hamilton wrapped around the cage and shoveled her shot past the leg of Trinity goalie Alison MacDougall.
- Ackerman recorded her second of the contest on a free-position opportunity that found the right panel with 1:14 remaining in the frame to make it 4-1.
- The Bantams posted the next three goals covering the first 4:59 of the second quarter. Charlotte Troy roped an underhanded shot with 12:13 on the clock and buried a look inside the right post 27 seconds later. The visitors continued the quick spurt, knotting the contest at 4-4 when Zito drove through traffic and scored with 10:01 remaining.
- Trinity took a 5-4 edge when Lily Acerra buried a free-position chance at the 13:49 mark of the opening half.
- The Panthers won the ensuing draw control and worked the ball around the zone. Adams collected a pass from Skylar Lach on the cut, posting a shot into the back of the net for a 5-5 contest with 18 seconds showing on the clock.
- Hamilton gave Middlebury the lead 47 seconds into the third frame after dodging multiple defenders and burying a tough-angled shot.
- The visitors regained the advantage with two markers 57 seconds apart. Alex Lesko rifled a shot that found space under the bar with 12:24 left, while Acerra converted a twirling attempt for a 7-6 edge.
- The navy and white rattled off the decisive run by tallying the next four goals. Adams started the surge with a dodge and score with 10:32 left, while Siobhan Colin gathered a feed from Adams and cut lacrosse the top of the crease for an 8-7 advantage.
- A sidewinding shot from Lach at 3:57 and a bouncer from the left side by Hamilton at 1:01 gave Middlebury a three-goal lead.
- Trinity paused the surge 30 seconds into the fourth quarter when Sarah Marvin went high to low on a running attempt to pull within a pair.
- Adams answered with two free-position tallies at 12:41 and 9:34 sandwiched around a Maeve Lee chance into the left panel (11:32) for a 12-8 lead.
- The Bantams looked to inch closer with 4:48 left, but Elizabeth Savage stuffed a point-blank bid by Erica Kierstead to cap the five-goal triumph.
NOTES
- Adams finished with four goals, three assists and six draw control victories.
- Caroline Messer had a solid all-around day with a career-best three draws, a quartet of ground balls and caused three turnovers.
- Hamilton concluded the contest with four goals. It is her 11th game with at least a hat trick this season. With the win, the Panthers have won 90 of the last 91 games dating back to the 2022 season.
- The programs met for the second installment this year and the 49th occasion overall. Middlebury holds a 32-17 advantage in the all-time series and grabs a 3-2 edge in NESCAC Tournament matchups with the Bantams.
The Panthers meet #4/third-seeded Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in the championship game. The Cardinals edged Tufts 10-9 in overtime during the day's second semifinal.
