MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Facing a Middlebury team that came in riding a 45-game win streak dating back to 2022, the Wesleyan women's lacrosse team played the Panthers to a tie score heading into the fourth quarter. Even with the stellar defensive display, Middlebury outscored the Cardinals 6-0 in the final 12:05 of play, lifting the Panthers to a 11-5 win in the NESCAC Championship on Sunday from Peter Kohn Field.
 
Less than 24 hours removed from winning in the NESCAC Semifinal round for the first time in team history, Wesleyan (15-3) held the Panthers to their fewest shot attempts (22) in over five years. The last time Middlebury recorded 22 or fewer shots in a game came all the way back on March 30, 2019, when the Panthers had 21 shots in a 11-9 win over Amherst. The Panthers' 11 goals also stand as the fewest goals Middlebury has scored since losing in the 2022 NESCAC Championship 9-8 to Tufts.
 
Wesleyan came storming out of the gates on a brutally cold May afternoon in central Vermont. Izzy Weintraub '26 made a save on a Maggie Coughlin shot on the first Panther possession and Becca Dibble '26 scored on a feed from Kiara Tangney '25 as Wesleyan led 1-0 following their first trip down the field on offense.
 
Susan Rowley evened the score at 1-1 a few minutes later, but the Cardinals continued to find success on attack, scoring three unanswered goals to put Middlebury on their heels in the early going. Dylan Green '26 converted a free position shot to start the 3-0 run before Laura Baine '24 netted her 44^th goal of the season and Elle Priesing '26 made it 4-1 Wesleyan just 48 seconds later.
 
An explosive first quarter saw the Panthers score twice before the final horn, as the Cardinals took a 4-3 lead into the second quarter.
 
Both sides struggled with turnovers in the second, as Wesleyan committed seven in the frame while the Panthers had four. Even though the Cardinals generated 0 shot attempts in the second quarter, Middlebury only attempted three, converting two, as the Panthers led 5-4 at the break.
 
Wesleyan's defense shined bright in the third quarter, holding the Panthers without a goal in the 15-minute frame. Middlebury's six possessions in the stanza resulted in four turnovers and two Weintraub saves. On the other end, the Cardinals managed to convert for the first time in over 30 minutes of game action, Baine cash in on a free position shot to even the score at 5-5 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Securing the first draw control of the fourth, Wesleyan had a chance to take the lead, but Brooke Nelson '24 shot wide of cage and Lindsey Diomede '26 had her free position shot saved by Elizabeth Savage.
 
After 45+ minutes of stymied offense, Middlebury's attack found success in the fourth, generating six unanswered goals starting with Hope Shue on a free position to give the Panthers a 6-5 lead. That Shue goal started a string of five straight Middlebury possessions that resulted in goals, as a 5-5 game turned into a 10-5 Panther lead in just over seven minutes of play.
 
Savage made seven of her eight saves in the second half, holding the Cardinals to one goal over the final 50+ minutes.
 
Weintraub made seven saves of her own while the Cardinals finished level with the Panthers in ground balls (12-12) and draw controls (10-10).
 
Baine scored twice to lead the Cardinal attack. Green totaled one goal, three draw controls, two caused turnovers, and one ground ball. Bridget Horst '26 secured four draw controls, two ground balls, one caused turnover, and one assist. Haley McLaughlin '24 led an inspired effort on defense with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
 
Wesleyan is all but assured of an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, as the Cardinals were ranked No. 3 in the IWLCA National Coaches Poll at the start of the week before defeating No. 2 Tufts 15-7 on Saturday. The Cardinals are 15-3 on the season and own four wins over Top 5 ranked teams.