MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- The Middlebury earned its sixth shutout of the season as the Panthers defeated the Bates College field hockey team 3-0 on Kohn Field Saturday in a NESCAC contest.

Dana Rye earned a hat trick for the Panthers, taking over the team lead with nine goals on the season.

Middlebury got on the board at the 13:25 mark as Rye converted a nice crossing pass from Reid Berrien. The lead doubled with 6:13 left in the half, as Rye drove down the field near the end line, before scoring with a shot to the far corner. Rye completed the hat-trick with just 2:07 remaining as Marnie Rowe made a nice crossing pass to Rye on a breakaway.

Megan McGillen made six saves in goal to earn her sixth shutout of the season, while Bates senior Sarah Sprague (Cleveland, Ohio) made four stops for the Bobcats.

BOX SCORE: Middlebury 3, Bates 0