Mackenzie Ross '12

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- Middlebury College's No. 7 ranked field hockey team marked a season high in goals in defeating Bates College 9-0 on Saturday. The Bobcats dipped to 5-7 overall, 1-6 in NESCAC play, while the Panthers raised their mark to 9-2, 5-2.

The Panthers scored five times in the first half and outshot the Bobcats 23-7, holding a 10-2 advantage in penalty corners. Leading 1-0 on a goal from Marnie Rowe, Heather McCormack made it 2-0 4:45 into the game, as she scored at the end of a penalty corner. Sophie Thompson made it a 3-0 game with her first of a career-high four goals on the afternoon, as she tipped in a pass from Rowe, and the Panthers were off to the races.

Sophomore Katie McEnroe (Hockessin, Del.) made nine saves in 47 minutes for Bates, while junior Helena Turner (Manchester, Mass.) logged the remaining 23 minutes of play in net. Junior Samantha Rothkopf (Chicago, Ill.) recorded a team-high two shots.

Caitlin Pentifallo made four saves in 63 minutes of work, while Becca Shaw saw action for the final seven for Middlebury.

Bates returns home for the final two games of the regular season, beginning with a 12 p.m. game against Wesleyan on Saturday, during Homecoming Weekend.

STATS: No. 7 Middlebury 9, Bates 0