MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College field hockey team got a successful penalty stroke conversion from Annie Leonard in double overtime on Saturday to defeat visiting Amherst, 3-2.
The Panthers, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III, improved to 3-0 heading into a Saturday home game at noon vs. top-ranked Bowdoin. Amherst, which entered the game ranked at No. 18, dropped to 2-2.
Middlebury was first to strike in the fourth minute on a penalty corner. Lauren Schweppe redirected a Leonard shot from the top of the circle.
Amherst’s Mary Margaret Stoll collected a loose ball just inside the arc and beat Middlebury goalkeeper Emily Miller at 9:54 to make it 1-1. Leonard put the Panthers ahead at 25:56 of the first half on a penalty stroke. 
Amherst turned up the offensive pressure in the second half and tied the game at 37:21, when Sara Culhane corralled a loose ball just inside the Middlebury arc and converted.
Miller (eight saves) made several stops to keep the game tied and also came out to disrupt a breakaway in the second overtime period.
Finally, Middlebury sent a long ball forward to Leonard, who drew a foul and ensuing penalty stroke at 96:54. Leonard lifted a high shot into the upper-right corner of the cage for the victory. The goal was her team-leading sixth of the season.
Amherst held a slim advantage in both shots (18-15) and penalty corners (13-11). Emily Horwitz recorded 11 saves for Amherst.