MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team saw their four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday afternoon, as the Camels hung tough, falling to No. 1 Middlebury 12-3 at Peter Kohn Field. With the loss, Conn falls to 5-3 on the year and 1-3 in NESCAC play, while Middlebury improves to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in conference action.
Middlebury started quickly, opening the scoring just 1:51 into the contest as Hope Shue hit the back of the net. Just over a minute later, the Panthers doubled their advantage as Shue connected with Caroline Adams to make it 2-0. However, Conn won the ensuing draw, as Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.) collected the ball, quickly firing up to Elizabeth Gill (Hingham, Mass.) who fired home to make it 2-1. Both goalies made some big saves throughout the rest of the period, but Middlebury converted with a late free-position goal to lead 3-1 after one.
Both defenses continued to shut down any major scoring chances as the game remained 3-1 midway through the quarter. With just under seven minutes left, Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) picked off a pass in the defensive zone, going nearly coast-to-coast before finding Panke. Panke laid a pass off to the side of the cage to Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) who fired home to make it 3-2 with 6:41 to play. The Panthers added two goals in the final three minutes of the quarter to lead 5-2 at the break.
The third quarter began like the second, as both teams and goalies were playing lockdown defense. With just under six minutes left in the frame, Conn was able to cut the deficit back to two. Emma Ognibene (New Canaan, Conn.) earned a free-position shot, and made no mistake after making a nifty move to beat Gina Driscoll over the shoulder. However, Middlebury answered back, as just 40 seconds later, Shue extended the lead back to three. The Panthers tacked on a goal in the final minute, taking a 7-3 lead into the fourth.
Middlebury opened the final frame, with an early marker as Anna Spehr found the back of the net at 12:15 pushing the advantage to 8-3. Three minutes later, Spehr notched her second goal of the game, moving the Panthers advantage to 9-3. Middlebury added three goals in the final three minutes to earn the 12-3 victory.
Middlebury outshot Conn 24-20, holding a 15-3 advantage on draw controls.
Ava Virga (Watertown, N.Y.) got the start in the cage, finishing with eight saves. Four different Camels tallied one point, as Gill, Johnston, and Ognibene all tallied one goal, while Panke chipped in the lone assist. Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) led the way with five shots on goal, with Johnston adding three.
Defensively, Conn forced 14 turnovers, with Eliza Shamah (Acton, Mass.) forcing a team-high five, while Brogan Holbrough (Rochester, N.Y.) and Downey caused three and two respectively. Shamah also led the way with six ground balls, as Downey, Emma McDonnell (Stevenson, Md.), and Hannah Merritt (Cheshire, Conn.) all scooped up three. Downey, Panke, and Suzie Smith (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) each controlled one draw.
Driscoll picked up the win in net, recording 13 saves. Shue paced Middlebury with seven points on five goals and two assists, while three other Panthers tallied multiple points.
Conn returns to action on Wednesday as the Camels travel to Westfield, Mass. to take on Westfield State at 7:00 p.m.
