MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Junior midfielder Sophie Chase (Milton, Mass./Milton) scored the only goal for the Pioneers in their 5-1 loss to top-ranked Middlebury Sunday afternoon in non-conference field hockey action.
Annie Leonard scored the first three goals of the game for the Panthers (2-0) who were playing for the second time in as many days. Middlebury has nearly a week off before returning to NESCAC play when they host 15th-ranked Amherst next Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
Middlebury jumped out to an early lead in the sixth minute when Leonard found the back of the cage at the 5:57 mark. She redirected an initial shot by Molly Freeman from the right side. A little less than eight minutes later at 13:48, Leonard made it a two-goal lead when she lofted in a crossing attempt by Susanna Baker.
The score remained that way until the 25th minute when Leonard completed the hat trick. The third-year Panther scored as a part of a penalty corner following a pinpoint pass from Caroline Knapp, as the Panthers took a 3-0 edge into the intermission.
Following the halftime break, Grace Jennings made it a 4-0 contest at 37:27 when she dribbled down the left side, sending a shot that pinged off the far post and into the Pioneer goal.
Smith (1-3) tallied its lone goal just under four minutes later at the 41:21 mark when Chase batted the ball out of the air for her first of the season. Julia Hamilton (Williamstown, Mass./Deerfield Academy)'s initial shot from just inside the arc was saved by Middlebury goalkeeper Emily Miller, but the ensuing rebound went up into the air and was swatted by Grace.
Susanna Baker concluded the scoring with her first goal of the fall for Middlebury at 54:18, providing the final four-goal advantage.
Middlebury finished with an 18-3 shots advantage in the contest, while holding a 12-2 edge in penalty corners. Miller recorded a save in front of the Panther goal, while Cameo Tietje (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) tallied five stops for the Pioneers.
Smith will play its third-consecutive NESCAC opponent when they host Connecticut College Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
(Recap courtesy to Middlebury Athletics)
