CASTLETON — The Middlebury College women’s hockey team closed out first-semester play on Saturday with a 2-0 win at Castleton University. The victory over the 3-7 Spartans allowed the Panthers, ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division III last week, to carry a 5-2 record into their holiday break. The Panthers are idle until they host another ranked team, Elmira, at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2. 
After a scoreless first period on this past Saturday, Carly Watson opened the scoring for the Panthers at 9:19 of the second period. After taking a pass from Anna Zumwinkle, Watson blasted home a shot from the point for a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers doubled their lead with 25 seconds remaining in the second period, when Kelly Sherman scored on a power play. Watson started the play, firing a shot from the point that Sherman tipped into the back of the net.
Middlebury finished the game with a 35-16 shots advantage. Panther goalie Julia Neuburger made 16 saves, while Alexis Kalm made 33 stops for Castleton.