Women’s Hockey Upset by NESCAC Foe Williams

The Middlebury women’s hockey team played a crucial home-and-away series against Williams to close out the NESCAC regular season. Going into the first game, the Panthers and the Ephs were tied for first place and vying for the top seed in the NESCAC tournament. Late into the second period, Williams’ Maghan Halloran sent a shot from the circle past junior goalie Lin Han. With twenty seconds left in the middle frame, however, the Panthers tied it up as first-year Jenna Letterie scored her ninth goal of the season. The Ephs would score a goal midway through the third period, with the game ending 2-1 as Williams goalie Chloe Heiting closed out multiple Panther power plays.

In the regular-season finale, Williams rose above Middlebury again, securing the victory with a heartbreaking overtime goal. The Ephs opened scoring in the first period, slipping the puck through Han’s five hole. In the third period, junior Sidney Porter got the Panthers on the board off an assist from sophomore Ellie Barney. Just under two minutes into the overtime period, Williams’ Avery Dunn found the back of the net from low inside the slot. 

The loss secured the second seed for the Panthers in the NESCAC tournament.

A rescheduled game against Plattsburgh State on Tuesday, Feb. 19 was the last game for the Panthers before tournament play begins. The two teams have not met since the NCAA quarterfinal last March, where the Cardinals came out on top. Plattsburgh opened scoring early in the second period, getting the puck past sophomore goalie Anna Goldstein. They scored again with 13 minutes remaining in the third. Junior Anna Zumwinkle buried a goal with five minutes left, cutting the deficit to one. However, Plattsburgh sealed the victory with an empty net goal to end the game 3-1.

Middlebury (9-5-2) begins NESCAC tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 23, when they face seventh-ranked Connecticut College (6-7-3). The Panthers, who have won the past three conference titles, hope to shake off the current four-game losing streak. In this season’s matchups against the Camels, the Panthers have skated to a 3-0 win and a tie.

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