Darric White and George Ordway scored to lead Middlebury College to a 2-1 win against Hamilton College in a NESCAC game at Middlebury's Kenyon Arena on Feb. 18.
Middlebury (12-8-3 overall, 11-5-1 NESCAC) extended its win streak to five games and surged up to the No. 3 seed for the 2012 NESCAC championship. The Panthers host No. 6 seed Wesleyan University in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Hamilton (8-12-3, 4-11-2) clinched the No. 8 and final seed thanks to a loss by Connecticut College earlier Saturday. The Continentals take on No. 1 seed Amherst College at Amherst in the quarters on Saturday.
BJ Lalonde '12 scored his first goal this season for Hamilton. Andrew White '13 was credited with his 12th assist, and Anthony Scarpino '12 increased his point streak to 10 games with an assist. Scarpino is third in the NESCAC with 31 points. Joe Quattrocchi '14 made 28 saves, including 13 in the first period. Quattrocchi shut out Middlebury in the Continentals' 3-0 win at home on Dec. 9, 2011.
Middlebury took a 1-0 lead 8:53 into the first period on White's second goal of the season. Trevor Pollock passed the puck to White, who scored from the top of the right face-off circle.
The Panthers made it 2-0 just 33 seconds into the second period. Charlie Strauss dropped a pass to Ordway, who scored from the slot with a quick wrister for his sixth goal of the season.
Hamilton had three power-play opportunities in the third period but were unable to take advantage until late. The Continentals did get on the board on a power-play goal and their netminder pulled with 2:08 remaining. White fed Lalonde for a quick one-timer from the right side. Middlebury has allowed just eight power-play goals this season, and is ranked second in Division III with a penalty kill at 91.5 percent.
The Continentals again pulled Quattrocchi but were unable to tie the score in the final 75 seconds. Dan Fullam made 14 saves to earn the victory for Middlebury.
The Panthers doubled up Hamilton 30-15 in shots. Middlebury is tied for eighth in Division III in scoring defense with 2.30 goals allowed per game.
The Continentals travel to Williams College for the regular season finale on Sunday, Feb. 19. The Panthers host Amherst on Sunday.
