MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The Middlebury College field hockey team won its fifth straight game on Saturday, 3-1, at Wesleyan, as Middlebury resident Chrissy Ritter came off the bench for her first goal of the season plus an assist.
The Panthers (12-2, 8-2 NESCAC) are ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division III and have clinched at least the fourth seed for the upcoming NESCAC tournament and will host a quarterfinal game on Saturday at a time to be announced. Wesleyan dropped to 5-8, 3-6 NESCAC.
Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead with 12:42 left in the first half on a goal by Amber Bruckner, who redirected a long crossing pass.
Middlebury tied the game at the end of the first half on a penalty corner as time expired. Off the corner, Bridget Instrum blasted a shot at Wesleyan goalie Sara Grundy, who kicked it aside. Catherine Fowler was there for the rebound and her 17th goal of the season.
With 23:07 remaining, Ritter and Hannah Deoul, who both had just subbed into the game, gave the Panthers the lead, as Ritter found Deoul in front; it was her third goal of the season. At 16:29 Ritter scored on a setup from Alyssa DiMaio.
Middlebury outshot Wesleyan, 11-1, and earned a 10-3 advantage in penalty corners. Middlebury goalie Emily Knapp made one save, while Sara Grundy made eight stops for the Cardinals.