LEWISTON, Maine — The Middlebury College women’s lacrosse team took a 5-0 lead on Saturday on the way to a 12-5 NESCAC victory at Bates. The Panthers, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III, improved to 10-0, 6-0 NESCAC heading into a  home game this coming Saturday vs. No. 10 Trinity. Bates, ranked No. 8, dropped to 10-2, 5-2 NESCAC.
On this past Saturday, the Panthers limited the Bobcats to two goals during the opening half and held the Bobcats scoreless for one stretch of 31:30. Goalie Katie Mandigo made seven saves and added five ground balls for the Panthers.
Laurel Pascal opened the scoring 1:57 into the contest, and Mandigo made a key save on a free-position shot by Bobcat Drew Barry a minute later.
Pascal bounced a free-position shot in to make it 2-0 at 22:48, and Megan Griffin scored 50 seconds later to push the lead to 3-0. Middlebury added tallies by Claire Russell and Bridget Instrum for a five-goal advantage at 14:54.
Bobcat Moriah Greenstein finally solved Middlebury’s defense with a goal at 14:05. Sydney Cowles made it 5-2 just over five minutes later. Middlebury added the final goal of the half at 2:28, when Mary O’Connell picked the top left corner of the net after taking a nice transition pass from Alli Sciarretta. 
In the second half, the Panthers again netted two unassisted goals in a span of 39 seconds. Chrissy Ritter picked up the first at 27:43 and Instrum netted the second at 27:09. Sciarretta soon made it 10-2 with a pair of goals separated by 12 seconds, the first on a free-position shot and the second with an assist Mary O’Connell.
Soon afterward Griffin and Pascal tallied 17 seconds apart to make it 12-2 with 18:15 left. Bates added three goals in the final 7:42. Bates goalie Hannah Jeffrey recorded nine saves.
Middlebury held advantages in both shots (31-19) and ground balls (26-16). Panther defender Alex White scooped a game-high seven ground balls. The Panthers’ relentless pressure also forced the Bobcats into 24 turnovers, compared to Middlebury’s 13. White, Mandigo and Hollis Perticone each caused two turnovers to lead Middlebury in that department.