WATERVILLE, Maine — The Middlebury College women’s hockey team edged host Colby twice this past weekend to retain first place in the NESCAC standings by one point over second-place Amherst.
The Panthers, ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division III, improved to 15-4-3, 11-0-3 in NESCAC play, while Amherst is 18-1-3, 11-1-2 in league action.
Middlebury can clinch first place and home ice for the NESCAC tournament with wins in its final two regular season games, both against fourth-place Williams (12-9-1, 8-6 NESCAC). The Panthers play at Williams on Friday and host the Ephs on Saturday. 
On this Saturday, the Panthers blanked Colby, 1-0. The Mules dropped to 5-15-3, 3-12-1 NESCAC. The game’s only goal came from Jessica Young at 17:58 of the second period on a power play. Young one-timed an Elizabeth Wulf cross-crease path home for her third goal in four games; she also has seven assists in that span.
Panther goalie Kiana Verplancke made 18 saves for her second-straight shutout. Colby goalie Angelica Crites made 26 saves.
On Friday, the Panthers scored twice in the third period to erase a Mule lead and prevail, 2-1. After a scoreless first period in which Panther netminder Julia Neuburger made 16 saves, Colby went on top at 11:58 of the second on a Katie McLaughlin goal.
Maddie Winslow netted her team-leading 12th of the season at 13:08 of the third to even the score, and Janka Hlinka scored the game-winner 16:03 into the session. Neuburger finished with 29 stops, while Crites made 21 saves.