SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Middlebury College women’s lacrosse team’s 2018 season got underway this past weekend with a pair of Panther victories on the road.
The 2-0 Panthers, ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division III, will hit the road again this weekend, when they visit NESCAC rival Connecticut at noon on Saturday. Middlebury will debut at home on Monday at 5 p.m. vs. non-league foe St. Lawrence.
On this past Sunday the Panthers scored six unanswered goals in the final 11:47 to defeat host Springfield, 7-3. The Pride dropped to 2-1.
The Panthers and Pride were tied at the half, 1-1, even though Middlebury had a 10-2 advantage in shots. Only Jenna McNicholas at 6:25 beat Pride goalie Brenna Keefe (16 saves) in the first half.
Goals by Kate Sarnacki and Shelby Corsano in the first eight minutes of the second half made it 3-1, Springfield. The game remained that way until 11:47, when the Panthers produced the decisive six-goal run, fueled by two goals from Georgia Carroll and one each from Henley Hall, Emma McDonagh (two assists), Hollis Perticone and Kirsten Murphy. Panther goalie Julia Keith made three saves.
Panther Evie Keating picked up a team-best seven ground balls and caused five turnovers, while Susanna Baker added five ground balls and four caused turnovers. Middlebury outshot Springfield, 30-9.
On Saturday the Panthers bolted to a 7-0 first-half lead in a 12-5 win over NESCAC foe Bates (2-1). In the opening surge Casey O’Neill, Carroll, Murphy and Perticone (twice each), and Sara DiCenso did the damage. The Panthers stretched the lead to 10-2 in the second before coasting home.
Carroll finished with three goals and four assists. Perticone won four draws, while Keating paced the team with four caused turnovers and five ground balls. Emma Johns caused three turnovers and scooped four ground balls. Keith made five saves, a total matched by Bates goalie Eliza Statile. Summer Dias scored three times for Bates.