HARTFORD, Conn. — The Middlebury College women’s hockey team opened its season this past weekend with a pair of 2-1 overtime wins at NESCAC rival Trinity.
The Panthers, ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division III in the coaches’ preseason poll, next will host the annual Panther/Cardinal Classic this coming weekend. On Saturday at 2 p.m., the Panthers will face Utica, and at 5 p.m. Plattsburgh will face Adrian. The consolation and final are set for Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m., respectively. Plattsburgh is the defending NCAA champion and defeated Middlebury in a national semifinal last year.
On this past Saturday, Kelly Sherman’s goal with 1.1 seconds left in a back-and-forth overtime gave Middlebury the 2-1 win at Trinity (0-2). 
Sherman’s game-winning goal came when she poked the puck home after she had fallen to the ice during a scrum in the crease. It also came during a power play after the Bantams killed off six of seven penalties in regulation, including all three during the third period.
Both teams had great chances in overtime before the game-winner. Bantam goaltender Kai-Lilly Karpman stopped an early Panther two-on-one and Taylor Foy blocked a shot after the puck had gotten behind Karpman.
Trinity’s Melissa Maffeo and Kelcie Finn both got off decent shots while the Bantams played shorthanded in the final 90 seconds, but Middlebury goalie Lin Han stopped on both.
Karpman stopped Jenna Marotta inside the last minute, but the Panthers controlled the last faceoff and Sherman stuffed the puck in from close on the left side on a rebound of her own shot.
Middlebury struck first when Carly Watson converted on the third of three Panther power plays in the opening 20 minutes, with an assist from Anna Zumwinkle.
Trinity tied the score early in the second frame, when Finn took a pass from Alex Sinson and beat Han.
Karpman finished with 25 saves, while Han had 15 stops for the Panthers, earning her first collegiate victory.
On Friday, Jessica Young scored 2:28 into overtime to give Middlebury the win.
The hosts took the lead 7:09 into the contest, when Hannah Oganeku tucked in a rebound after Panther goalie Julia Neuberger (24 saves) twice denied Maffeo from point-blank range. 
Middlebury evened the score 12:17 into the second period. Sidney Portner sent a pass from the right boards in the neutral zone to a cutting Janka Hlinka, who ripped a shot from the high slot off goalie Jess Thulin (38 saves).
Middlebury carried the play in the third period, recording a 19-5 advantage in shots, but could not beat Thulin. But the Panthers pressed in the extra session. Young had two early chances, including one that went off the post. Middlebury used that sustained pressure to set up the winning goal. Maddie Winslow passed from the corner to Victoria Laven at the left point. Laven shot, and Young deflected it home as she was cutting through the slot.