MIDDLEBURY — Despite Sunday’s upset loss to Amherst in the NESCAC playoff final, the 21-3-3 Middlebury College women’s hockey team will host an NCAA Division III quarterfinal game this Saturday.
The Panthers will entertain Endicott (25-2) at 3 p.m. in Kenyon Arena. The two teams met earlier this season at Endicott, with Middlebury coming away with a 3-0 victory. Since then the Gulls have won 13 straight.
Due to the college decision to send students home early because of the coronavirus, the status of this game is up in the air as of press time and fans may not be allowed to attend if it is held.
The Panthers were ranked No. 2 behind Plattsburgh (26-1) in the most recent NCAA poll, and they are the only team to defeat the Cardinals this season. Middlebury prevailed in Kenyon, 2-1, and the Cardinals prevailed in Plattsburgh, 4-1. Plattsburgh, barring an upset, will probably host the final four on March 20 and 21.
If the Panthers prevail on Saturday they would play one of three Western teams in a semifinal, none of whom they have met this winter: Wisconsin-Eau Claire (22-4-2), which will host a Saturday quarterfinal; Wisconsin-River Falls (21-5-2); or Gustavus Adolphus (22-3-2). River Falls and Adolphus were set to meet in a Wednesday first-round game for the right to visit Wis.-Eau Claire.
Elmira (22-4-2) will host Adrian (22-3-3) in one Saturday quarterfinal in Plattsburgh’s side of the bracket, while Amherst (17-5-5) and Norwich (22-4-2) were set to square off on Wednesday for the chance to knock off Plattsburgh on Saturday.