Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The sixth-ranked Middlebury College field hockey team netted a goal in each half and held on to defeat Rensselaer at Harkness Field. With the win, the Panthers improve to 11-2 overall including 6-2 in the NESCAC, while the Red Hawks finish their season with an 8-9 mark (3-4 Liberty League).

Middlebury sophomore Chase Delano (Greenwich, CT/Hotchkiss) opened the scoring in the 11th minute as she collected her own rebound and buried a shot from 15 yards out. Delano's goal, which was her team-leading 19th of the season, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Panthers finished the first half with an edge in both shots (14-6) and corners (4-1), while the Red Hawks drew more fouls at a 21-15 clip.

Senior midfielder Lindsay McBride (Old Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) expanded Middlebury's lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute. A Panthers' corner was deflected towards the top of the scoring arc, where junior Mullery Doar (Winnetka, IL/North Shore) was waiting. Her shot was saved by RPI freshman netminder Sarah Burcher (Lanexa, VA/Maggie L. Walker Governor's School), but McBride was there to finish the rebound.

The Red Hawks generated a number of chances to score in the second frame, but could not solve Middlebury senior neminder Caitlin Pentfallo (River Edge, NJ/River Dell), who finished with five saves. Burcher, who was making her fourth ever start, finished with a career-high 12 stops.

Pacing Rensselaer offensively, were seniors Kristiina Baker (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional) and Lisa Pak (Methuen, MA/Methuen) and junior Shaina Feldman (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) who each had three shots.

Delano, who had a goal on six shots, was aided on the attack by junior Heather McCormack (Rowley, MA/St. Mark's) who totaled nine shots, including five on goal. McBride finished with a goal on three shots, while Doar picked up the assist on Middlebury's second tally.