MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College field hockey team won twice at home this past weekend to improve to 13-0. The Panthers are the No. 1 team in NCAA Division I, but face two tough challenges to wrap up the regular season, at No. 6 Tufts (11-2) on Saturday and vs. No. 8 Williams (11-1) at home at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
On this past Sunday, Middlebury outshot visiting St. John Fisher, 23-4, in a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals (11-4). The win was the 300th at Middlebury for Coach Katharine DeLorenzo (300-61).
After St. John Fisher (11-4) forced Middlebury keeper Grace Harlan to make two early saves, Kelly Coyle gave Middlebury the lead at 6:12 with a sweeping shot from the left side.
The Cardinals tied the game in the second quarter on a penalty corner when Reghan Amoroso tipped in a shot. The Panthers answered on a penalty corner: Katie George swept in an Alison Denby crossing pass for her team-high ninth goal.
The Panthers dominated the rest of the way and did not allow a shot at goal in the second half. Harlan made three saves, and Kelly Bergamo made 11 for St. John Fisher.  
 On Saturday, Erin Nicholas converted a penalty stroke with 2:03 remaining in overtime to lift the Panthers to a 3-2 victory over Trinity (6-7, 1-7 NESCAC).
After a scoreless first half George worked her way down the right side and slid a low shot with 1:20 gone in the third quarter. Trinity soon evened the score when Kendall Brown’s shot deflected in.
Brown redirected a pass at 11:04 of the fourth quarter to put Trinity on top. Marissa Baker knotted the score with 3:17 left in regulation on a penalty corner. Isabel Chandler sent the ball to the left side, where Baker fired it home.
George carried the ball into the shooting area and was fouled in overtime to force the stroke. Nicholas found the lower-left corner for the game winner. Harlan made two saves, while Emma Cropper made three for Trinity.