MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The Middlebury field hockey team advanced into the third round of the NCAA Tournament, as the Panthers collected a 5-1 triumph over Endicott on Saturday in the first meeting between the two programs. Middlebury (19-0) advances to Sunday's regional final at 1:00 p.m. where the team will face Tufts for the third time this season. The Gulls capped their season at 14-7.

The victory extended a pair of winning streaks for the Panthers, as they have won 27-straight games overall and the last 46 contests played on Kohn Field.

Middlebury jumped out to an early lead, getting on the scoreboard 2:27 into the contest. Isabel Chandler set a pass from the goal line back out to just inside the arc, where Amy Griffin fired a shot into the right side of the net for the 1-0 edge

Endicott defender Meghan Lehouiller made a nice defensive save early in the second quarter, but Middlebury kept up the offensive pressure. Katie George tipped in a long pass from Katherine Lantzy for a 2-0 cushion with 8:11 showing on the clock. Just over two minutes later, Lantzy set up Riley Marchin for her first career tally, a long shot from the left side. The Panthers capped their three-goal outburst in the period with 4:22 left before the intermission, as Sadie LeStage chipped a pass from Lilly Branka behind Gull goalie Taylor Farrin.

In the third stanza, Erin Nicholas gave the hosts a 5-0 advantage with her conference-leading 23rd of the fall on a backhanded swing. That goal tied her with Reid Berrien (04-07) for fourth on Middlebury's career list for goals at 60.

Endicott spoiled the shutout bid in the final frame, scoring with 5:44 remaining in the contest. Sydney Poulin fired a shot from the top of the arc on a penalty corner that was blocked by the Middlebury defense, but she quickly collected the loose ball and sent a low shot into the net to make the final 5-1.

Panther goalie Grace Harlan earned the win in net, for her 40th career victory, while Taylor Farrin had 14 stops for the Gulls.

Harlan earned the win for the Panthers with a pair of saves, while Taylor Farrin.