MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College field hockey team split two NESCAC games this past weekend and stood at 9-3, 5-3 in the league heading into a Wednesday game at RPI after deadline for the sports section. The Panthers will wrap up their regular season by hosting Bates at noon on Saturday and visiting Williams on Tuesday. Their league record puts them in a five-way tie for third-place, a game behind 6-2 Tufts and a half-game behind 6-3 Amherst in a crowded race.
On Sunday, the Panthers blanked visiting Wesleyan, 4-0.  The Cardinals dropped to 2-10, 0-7 in NESAC play.
Middlebury got on the board 4:37 into the contest on a Molly Freeman goal, assisted by Lauren Schweppe. 
Julia Richards made it 2-0 with her first career goal at 8:12. Richards ripped a reverse chip shot into the top right corner of the net from 10 yards out.
Marissa Baker made it 3-0 with 4:25 remaining in the first half by converting a pass from Kelly Coyle.
The Panthers scored the only goal of the second half 2:10 after the break. Freeman noted her second of the game after taking a cross-crease pass from Emma Johns.
Middlebury finished with advantages of 20-1 in shots advantage and 16-1 in penalty corners. Goalie Emily Miller made one save for her third shutout of the season, while goalie Claire Edelman made 11 stops for the Cardinals.
On Saturday, host Trinity (10-3, 5-3 NESCAC after a Sunday loss to Tufts) topped the Panthers, 3-0. The Bantams led by 1-0 at the half, but scored early in the second half and added a pad goal on a penalty stroke. They outshot Middlebury, 16-10, but the Panthers had an edge in penalty corners, 10-7.
Bantam goalie Lori Berger made six saves, while Miller recorded a season-high nine stops for the Panthers.