The field hockey team (4–0) continued their undefeated start to the season after winning a 2–1 thriller against number four ranked Babson College on Sept. 15. Grace Keefe ’26 scored with just 24 seconds left in regulation to propel the Panthers to success.
Middlebury’s one goal victory was the smallest margin of victory the team has had this season in their quest for a seventh straight NCAA title. Babson is the highest ranked opponent the team has played all season, and the Panthers continued their success streak against the Beavers after beating them 3–0 in the NCAA semifinals last season. Middlebury is now 11–1 all-time against Babson, having also won eight consecutive meetings.
In the victory, Middlebury had to overcome an early deficit. Just four minutes into the game, Katie Guden scored for the Beavers to give them an early 1–0 lead. The Panthers fought back. While they did not score a goal in the first period, they were knocking on the door. They outshot Babson five to one in the frame, but could not find the back of the net.
However, in the second period, the Panthers broke through. Georgianne Defeo ’26 scored the equalizer about four minutes into the period. Defeo’s strike was her fourth goal of the season, tying Caroline Segal ’24.5 for the team lead in goals with four.
Throughout the third and fourth periods, both teams struggled to put points on the scoreboard. Babson had no significant opportunities to score and took only one shot in the half, and while the Panther’s offense was able to rattle off eight shots, many of them missed and Babson goalie Bayla Furmanek made three crucial saves in the final two periods. Keefe finally broke through for the Panthers right before the end of regulation to ensure victory. The game-winning shot was her second goal of the season.
The field hockey team’s win extended their winning streak to 35 games. The team’s current winning streak dates back to 2022 after they lost 1–0 to Trinity College. Before that loss two seasons ago, the team had a 42 game winning streak. The Panthers have the opportunity to best that streak this year.
The field hockey team’s success this year has been driven from contributions from players across the team. Four players on the team have at least three goals this season, Segal leads the NESCAC in assists with six and Izzy Redzic ’27 is fifth in the NESCAC in save percentage in her first season as the team’s starting goalie.
The team’s strong performance comes without significant goal scoring from star player Amy Griffin ’24.5, last year’s National Field Hockey Coaches Association Player of the Year. Griffin has just one goal in four contests this year. Last season, she averaged over one goal per game. Griffin, though, ranks third in the NESCAC in shots with 20. For a player of Griffin’s caliber, over the course of the season, a higher percentage of these shots will probably reach the back of the net.
The field hockey team is set to play Amherst College (3–1) this Saturday on the road.
Jack McGuire (he/him) is a Senior Sports Editor.
Jack previously served as a Sports Editor and as a Staff Writer. He also spent this past summer working as a News Reporting Intern for Seven Days.
Jack is also majoring in economics with minors in political science and film and media culture.
