MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The Connecticut College women's ice hockey team came up just short in its bid for a NESCAC Semifinals berth. The Camels fell to top-seeded Middlebury 2-1 on the road to conclude the season with a record of 9-15-2, 4-12 NESCAC. 

The ninth-seeded Camels entered Sunday's contest with a daunting task in front of them in the form of Middlebury. The Panthers came into the game with a perfect 21-0 record and they are ranked as the nation's top team. The two teams also met earlier in the season for a pair of games in which Middlebury won both and outscored Conn 8-0 cumulatively. Despite the difference in record and ranking, the Camels gave the Panthers all they could handle on Sunday.

Middlebury jumped on the scoreboard first with 4:27 elapsed in the opening period on a delayed penalty with an extra skater. Julia Johnson slapped a shot from the right circle that trickled through traffic and went over the shoulder of Camels goalie Abby Wieczorek (Winnetka, Ill.). Connecticut College nearly tied the game halfway through the period when a shot by Abby Munger (Trinity, Fla.) hit the post but did not go in. Wieczorek recorded eight saves over the remainder of the frame to keep the contest at 1-0 headed to the second period.

Following a slashing penalty from Middlebury 8:31 in the second stanza, Conn was able to tie the score on the power play. An initial shot from the right side by Miyu Miyazaki (Chiba, Japan) was saved by Panthers goalie Sophia Merageas. Following a scramble just outside the crease, Camille Phelan (Medfield, Mass.) tapped in the loose puck to tie the score at 1-1. The score would remain knotted at one heading into the decisive third period.

With just over four minutes into the final frame, Middlebury broke the tie after a Camels turnover, Cat Appleyard wristed the puck up and over Wieczorek's right pad for a 2-1 Panther lead. In desperation mode, Conn pulled Wieczorek with 1:38 left and seconds later went on the power play, but the Panthers killed it off and secured the 2-1 victory.

Wieczorek was outstanding with 28 saves against the potent Panthers offense. Merageas stopped 18 shots for the home team.

Middlebury (22-0-0) will advance to the conference semifinals for the 19th time in the last 20 years.

Connecticut College graduates five seniors and returns 20 varisty letter-winners next season.