MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The Middlebury College women’s lacrosse team improved to 3-1, 2-1 in NESCAC play, by defeating host Wesleyan on Saturday, 15-8. The Panthers finished the week ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division III and will play at No. 5 Bowdoin this Saturday.
This past Saturday, the Panthers relied on the offense of Katie Ritter (four goals and an assist) and Laurel Pascal (four goals).
Ritter now paces Middlebury with 15 points on 10 goals and five assists, while Pascal has 12 goals and two assists for 14 points.
Middlebury took a 6-1 advantage with 10:16 left in the first half as Ritter netted a pair while Pascal, Hollis Perticone, Bridget Instrum and Alli Sciarretta added a goal apiece.
Wesleyan scored three straight to narrow the gap to 6-4 with 2:21 left in the half, but the Panthers scored three goals before the break to make it 9-4 and opened the second half with a 5-1 run to put the game out of reach.
Perticone contributed two goals and two assists, and Middlebury collected 15 draws to 10 for Wesleyan.
Panther starting goalie Madeleine Kinker turned aside seven shots while allowing five goals in 51:15 between the pipes. Alex Freedman gave up the last three Wesleyan goals. Cardinal starter Nina Labovich picked up four saves in 53 minutes with 14 goals against. Grace McCann yielded the last goal.