After cruising to a 12–1 victory over Castleton to open the season last Wednesday, Sept. 6, the Middlebury Women’s Field Hockey team is off to a 2–0 start in what is looking to be a promising season. The team pulled out a 4–1 win over Conn. College on Sunday, Sept. 10, to keep the momentum going.
Middlebury took the 1–0 lead about 16 minutes into the game when Molly Freeman ’19 tipped in a shot from Lauren Schweppe ’18 on a penalty corner.
Conn. College tied the game at 1–1 10 minutes later, but Freeman answered right back with a goal right before the end of the first half. Middlebury lead 2–1 as time expired.
Freeman commented on the team’s momentum coming into the upcoming season:
“I think after having 2 games, we’re really beginning to adjust to our new formation, and seeing what works and doesn’t work for us.”
The Panthers started the second half by pushing the lead to 3–1 when Grace Jennings ’19 stopped the ball for a shot by Annie Leonard ’18. That marked Leonard’s third goal of the season and the impressive 60th of her career.
Leonard’s 60th career goal ties her with Reid Berrien ’08 for third all-time on the Middlebury goals list.
The Panthers then finished off the game with a fourth goal 50 minutes into the game, with a shot from Erin Nicholas ’21.
Middlebury outshot the Camels 20–5.
“We have a really deep team this year and also a really high energy level throughout the game,” Freeman said. “It allows us to dictate the tempo and work with a lot of different people on the field so far.”
Middlebury hits the field again this weekend with a double header, first away on Saturday Sept. 16 at Amherst and back home on Sunday, Sept. 17, against Hamilton to complete the weekend, at 11 a.m. on Kohn Field.
