MIDDLEBURY, VT. -- Despite 36 saves from senior goaltender Caitlin Walker, the Amherst College women's hockey was defeated by #1 ranked Middlebury in the championship game of the NESCAC Tournament played at Chip Keynon Area Sunday, 2-0. 

Amherst fell to 14-9-2 overall while Middlebury improved to 24-0-0 and earned the NESCAC's automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Div. III Tournament. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* Walker was exceptional in the opening stanza, stopping all 12 Panther shots. There were several redirected attempts Walker was able to get a piece of ti keep the game scoreless. Amherst had only five shots, but did have a very good attempt to take the lead with five minutes left in the period when Rylee Glennon gained possession just outside of the blueline and skated in on Sophia Merageas from the right side. Her initial shot was saved and the rebound went to Wiater, whose rebounds slid through the crease and just wide of the far post.

* The Middlebury pressure increased in the second period. The Panthers possessed the puck in the left corner of the Mammoths' zone when Anna Baxter was penalized for a body check with 12:20 to go. Walker had a nice glove save which was followed by a short-handed scoring chance for Amherst set up by the hard work of Carley Daly, who skated around two Panthers defenders and found Wiater on the right side and she skated into the zone. Wiater zeroed in on Merageas, but her shot was high over the bar. 

* Moments later, Walker made a great save off a Cat Appleyard one-timer in the slot. But three seconds after Baxter's penalty, Middlebury got on the scoreboard off a slapshot from Claudia Vira from just inside the blueline. 

* Middlebury had a second power play early in the third period, but Walker stoned Vira's attempt for a second goal with a quick glove save. She also robbed Maddie Leidt with a nice right pad save. 

* Middlebury led 2-0 late when the Mammoths went on the power play for the only time in the game. They were able to create four shots, including a nice attempt from Stephanie Nomicos from the high slot, but Merageas was up to the task. 

BY THE NUMBERS: 

* Middlebury finished with a 38 to 13 edge in shots. Merageas need just 13 saves to post her 5th shutout of the season. Walker finished with 36. 

* The two teams split the face-offs, with each winning 29 of 58. Wiater won 14 of 28 draws taken, while Baxter won 10 of 19. 

* This was the ninth meeting between Amherst and Middlebury in the women's hockey NESCAC Tournament championship game.