#3 Field Hockey Eases Past #16 Tufts

Third-ranked Middlebury received two second-half goals from Annie Leonard, turning a 1-0 halftime advantage into a 3-0 victory over #16 Tufts on Bello Field. The Jumbos move to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in NESCAC play with the loss.  Middlebury (9-1, 5-1) will be back in action Sunday when it travels to Wesleyan for a noon start with the Cardinals, while the Jumbos host #14 Christopher Newport Monday at 2:00.

The action began slowly in the opening half, as the first shot on goal for either team came a little over 15 minutes into play from Middlebury's Anna Kenyon. She blasted the ball toward the net, but Tufts rookie net minder Emily Polinski made the save to keep the score locked at zero.

The Jumbos drew the first penalty corner with just under 15 minutes remaining in the half.  Jumbo rookie Hanaa Malik unleashed a shot, but Middlebury keeper Emily Miller made the save. Malik got her own rebound and tried again, but this time it was Jillian Green picking up the defensive save.

Middlebury hit its stride toward the end of the first half, drawing its first penalty corner with just under five minutes left. Molly Freeman sent a hard shot toward the open cage, but Tufts' Celia Lewis picked up the defensive save and kept the game scoreless.

A little more than two minutes later, the visitors drew another penalty corner and capitalized. Grace Jennings found Bridget Instrum in front of the net, as Instrum got the ball past Polinksi at 33:53 for her fifth goal of the season.

The Panthers put the pressure on the Jumbos early in the second half, inducing multiple penalty corners in the opening minutes. Middlebury increased its lead to 2-0 with the first of two goals from Annie Leonard. In the commotion in front of the net, Polinski came off her line to kick the ball away from the cage. The loose ball found the stick of Audrey Quirk, who sent a low pass to Leonard for the score at 52:51.

With a little more than five minutes remaining in the game, the Jumbos had a chance to score on a penalty corner, but Dakota Sikes-Keilp rifled a shot that was just wide of the cage.

The Panthers made it 3-0 with 45 seconds left to play on a breakaway from Leonard, who made a nice move around Polinski for her second of the game and ninth of the season.

The Panthers finished with the advantage in shots, 13-8, while the Jumbos had the advantage in corners, 6-4. Miller finished with five saves in the win for the Panthers, while Polinski made eight saves in the loss for the Jumbos.