Hamilton (11-11-3 overall) was the sixth seed in the championship. The Continentals have played in the championship every year since it started in 2002. Middlebury (16-6-3) is the third seed and the defending tournament champions. The Panthers -- now 15-4 all-time in the championship -- go on to play in a NESCAC semifinal on Saturday, March 6.
Middlebury got on the scoreboard first with 2:19 left in the opening period when one of the Panthers sent a shot into the top right corner of the goal.
Middlebury opened up its lead in the second period. The Panthers made the score 2-0 just 1:32 into the second. Then they scored four goals in a little more than two minutes. At 9:18 into the second, the Panthers sent a shot from right in front of the net to go up 3-0. Just 24 seconds later, the Panthers scored again to make it 4-0.
One of the Panthers came around from behind the goal before sending a shot into the back of the net at 11:09 to go ahead by five. A power-play goal at 11:36 in made the score 6-0. Middlebury added one more goal in the period with 1:10 left.
Hamilton got on the scoreboard 5:43 into the third period. A Middlebury player was sent to the penalty box for hooking at 4:29. Stephanie Miguel ’11 fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Middlebury goalie, but Christie Sharlow ’11 was there to send the puck just over the goal line for a power-play goal. It was Sharlow’s sixth goal of the season. Emily Baxter '13 was also credited with an assist.
