MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team suffered its first setback of the season on Saturday in its NESCAC opener against top-ranked Middlebury College, falling 19-3 to the defending national champions at Kohn Field.

Julianna Ingrassia (Garden City, N.Y.), Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) and Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) each contributed a goal for the Camels, and goalie Violette Nidds (Ridgewood, N.J.) finished with seven saves. Middlebury's Susan Rowley led all scorers with four goals. 

The Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter before Coughlin got Conn on the scoreboard with an unassisted effort at the 2:34 mark. Middlebury tacked on three more scores before the end of the period and led 10-1 after one. 

Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) fed Ingrassia for the first goal of the second period, but it would be Conn's last tally of the half. The Panthers tacked on four more goals before the halftime horn and led 14-2 at the break.

Downey's goal was the first of the second half, coming off an assist by Suzie Smith (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Middlebury responded with a pair of goals in the third period and three more in the fourth en route to the 19-3 final.

Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) and Caroline Barbieri (Longmeadow, Mass.) each caused a pair of turnovers to pace Conn's defense. Sydney also scooped up a pair of ground balls along with Mae Emerson (Deerfield, Mass.).

Entering the game, Middlebury was ranked number one in the country in both the ILWomen/IWLCA and USA Lacrosse Magazine polls. The Panthers improved to 3-0 on the season and have won their last eight games, a streak that included the 2022 national title game.

Conn College (2-1 overall, 0-1 NESCAC) will next play US Merchant Marine Academy on Tuesday, March 14 in Panama City, Fla.