BRUNSWICK, Maine – Rachel Kennedy scored a pair of goals for Bowdoin, but the Middlebury women's ice hockey team used two third period tallies to hold off a late Bowdoin charge and capture the 4-2 win Friday night at Watson Arena.

The Panthers improve to 8-2-3 (6-1-2 NESCAC), handing the Polar Bears (8-4-3, 4-2-1 NESCAC) their second conference loss of the season.

Middlebury came out quickly in the first frame, scoring just over five minutes into the period to take the early lead. Outshooting the Polar Bears 6-0 through the opening minutes, Middlebury converted off a shot from Victoria Laven to go up 1-0. Teeing up a shot from just inside the blue line, Laven sent the puck through traffic and just inside the left post. The Panthers ultimately outshot the Polar Bears 13-2 in the opening frame.

Janka Hlinka gave Middlebury the quick 2-0 edge 56 seconds into the middle period off a feed from Jessica Young. Carrying the puck up from behind the Bowdoin net on the left side, Young dished to Hlinka in the low slot for a one-timer to beat Lan Crofton and double Middlebury's lead. The Polar Bears broke through 2:45 into the period, pulling within one, off Kennedy's first of the night. Winning the faceoff in Middlebury territory, Miranda Bell ripped a shot from left side with Rachel Kennedy getting a stick out to deflect the puck through the legs of Annabelle Jones.

Bowdoin and Middlebury traded goals in the third, with the Panthers taking a 3-1 lead before Bowdoin bit back to make it 3-2. Both teams scored similar goals, with the puck being put away off an uncovered rebound. The Panthers goal came as Young cleaned up a rebound from Maddie Winslow. Kennedy netted her second of the night less than a minute later after Chelsea MacNeil's initial bid was denied. With the puck loose, Kennedy wristed a shot over traffic. Middlebury closed the game out with an empty netter after killing off a 6-on-4 Bowdoin power play. 

Crofton made 18 saves in net for the Polar Bears in 47:37 minutes of play before being replaced by Beth Findley who made four stops. Jones put in a complete game performance, making 23 stops.

The Panthers and Polar Bears faceoff again tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in Watson Arena.