MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury's Sara Ugalde scored two third period goals to lead the Panther women's ice hockey team to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Bowdoin (6-7-2, 4-4) in Kenyon Arena. The victory completes a two-game sweep for fourth-ranked Middlebury, which improves to 11-1-2, 9-1 in NESCAC play.
Middlebury had a great chance in the game's first minute, but Panthers Sara Ugalde and Katie Sullivan were both denied by Kayla Lessard (23 saves) from point-blank range. Bowdoin took a 1-0 lead at the 3:30 mark, when Colleen Finnerty scored her second of the year on a wrap-around. Middlebury went on the power play at the 10:22 mark, putting tons of pressure on the Polar Bear net, but could not even the score. Bowdoin closed the period on a power play, with Middlebury netminder Annabelle Jones (15 saves) stuffing Emily Tang's rebound attempt with 1:30 remaining in the period.
Bowdoin took a 2-0 lead at the 9:53 mark when Kim Tess Wanat sent in a puck from the left point that was quickly redirected in the slot by Kayte Holtz. The goal was her team-leading ninth of the season, this one coming on the power play.
Middlebury answered at 11:02 when Jennifer Krakower's shot from the right point deflected in off Molly Downey for her third of the year. The Panthers had a great chance to tie the game late in the period, but could not take advantage of 1:08 of five-on-three time power play time.
Middlebury tied the game midway through the third, when Ugalde redirected a shot from the left point taken by Maria Bourdeau. The Panthers nearly took the lead later in the period on a power play, but Madison Styrbicki's shot hit the left post and trickled along the goal line before being cleared away.
Bowdoin took two late penalties, leaving Middlebury with a five-on-three power play for 1:15 with 2:00 remaining. Styrbicki found Maggie Melberg down low on the right, as her centering pass to the slot was one-timed into the back of the net by Ugalde for the game-winner. The goal was her second of the period and team-leading eighth of the season.
The Panthers held a 26-17 advantage in shots as Bowdoin was charged for eight penalties to just four for Middlebury.
