MIDDLEBURY, VT -- It a battle of the seventh and eighth ranked teams in the nation, #7 Middlebury earned a 16-10 victory over #8 Union on Kohn Field Wednesday. The Panthers jumped out to a 12-4 lead and outshot Union 38-19 on the afternoon.

Middlebury jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the game's first 5:02 of play, with two free position goals. Union answered as Allie Cuozzo (Norfolk, MA) hit Kristin Joyce (Longmeadow, MA) for a quick-stick goal just 16 seconds later.

The Panthers came back with three more tallies, including two more free position goals, to make it a 6-1 game at the 19:52 mark. Union netted two of the next three before the Panthers closed the half on a 5-1 run to take a 12-4 lead into the intermission.

Dana Heritage scored her fourth goal of the game to open the second half, before Union went on a run over the next six minutes, netting three of four goals to make it a 14-7 game with 13:08 remaining.

Middlebury gained some breathing room with a pair of goals in 42 seconds, including the team's fifth free position goal of the game, to take a 16-7 lead with 9:30 left to play.

Union scored the game's final three goals to make it a 16-10 contest. Heritage paced the Panthers with four goals, Mimi Shatz and Katherine Entwisle scored three apiece, while Lindsay Winstead and Reid Berrien each netted a pair. Sally Ryan dished out three assists in the win. Joyce led Union with four goals, while Keri Messa (Saratoga Springs, NY) scored a pair with three assists.

Blair Bowie made seven saves over 52 minutes, while Whitney Wildrick made three in eight minutes for the Panthers. Melissa McDonald (Lynnfield, MA) made 17 stops between the pipes for Union.

The Dutchwomen return home for another non-league game, vs. St. John Fisher, Sunday at 1 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field.

Box score