MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The No. 8 nationally ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team tallied goals in each period en route to a 5-0 shutout win over Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers (12-5-2, 8-3-1 NESCAC) complete the weekend sweep of the Cardinals (9-10-1, 3-9 NESCAC) as Wesleyan looks to rebound back at home next weekend against Colby.
 
After killing off an early Middlebury power play opportunity, Rei Halloran '23 made a great stick save on a scoring chance from Jenna Letterie who took a shot off a rush from the top of the right faceoff circle.
 
Middlebury ultimately broke through with just under five minute remaining in the opening period. Raia Schluter carried the puck down the right boards, pulled back and sent a cross-ice pass toward the left dot. Letterie came onto the puck off a fresh line change and one-timed the puck into the net for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Panthers made it 2-0 with 10:57 gone in the second period when Letterie redirected an initial shot from Claudia Vira for her second goal of the game.
 
Wesleyan looked to cut the lead in half three minutes later, but Mairead Kennedy '24 saw her attempt denied by a blocker save from Panther goalie Sophia Will.
 
With just over five minutes left in the second, Middlebury struck again. Eva Hendrickson sent a pass to Avery McInerny in the slot, before McInerny spun around and slipped the puck past Halloran for the 3-0 advantage.
 
Jordan Hower and Maddie Bayard both scored in the third period to complete the 5-0 victory for the Panthers.
 
Brigitte Goeler-Slough '23 led the Cardinals with three blocked shots while Halloran made a season-high 42 saves in net.