Courtesy Middlebury Athletic Communications

Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury advanced to the NESCAC Championship game for the fourth straight season after a 5-3 win over Hamilton. The Panthers will take on Trinity who defeated Colby 3-2 in overtime. The win extends Middlebury's unbeaten streak to 20 (18-0-2) games. Hamilton ends its season at 14-10-2.

Middlebury jumped out early as Kevin Cooper circled the net before scoring from just outside the crease as the puck went into the net of a defender's skate. The Panthers ended the period with a 12-4 shot advantage and a 1-0 lead.

Middlebury scored on the power play 7:10 into the second period when John Dawson found Robert Chisholm with a great pass down-low for the one-timer. The lead increased to 3-0 just 2:16 later with another power play goal. Tim Schneider scored the goal as he wristed home a screened shot from the left circle.

Hamilton got on the board 5:00 into the third period as Ricky Reichenbach's shot beat a screened Yen-I Chen as it deflected into the net. Hamilton had gained some momentum, but that ended minutes later as Kevin Cooper converted a breakaway with a wrister into the left side of the net.

The Continentals made it a two-goal game at 11:44 with a power play goal as Gus Katsuras scored from the doorstep after a rebound. Hamilton kept coming as Jeff Corey scored from the slot after a pass was kicked to him by Craig Kennedy with their netminder pulled.

The Continentals continued to charge with their goaltender out, but after a few chances, Middlebury's Chisholm broke away and sealed the game with an empty-netter.

Chen made 22 saves in goal for Middlebury, while Gabe Tash made 29 stops for Hamilton.