LEWISTON, Maine -- The No. 1 nationally ranked Middlebury Panthers scored three goals in the first quarter to jump out to an early lead, defeating No. 11 field hockey 4-1 Sunday at Campus Ave. Field. 

The Panthers (7-0, 4-0 NESCAC) got on the board in the fifth minute thanks to a terrific individual effort from Sadie LeStage. She weaved through the Bates defense and got to the goal line, scoring from the doorstep of the right side of the cage. 

Then Middlebury added to the lead in the seventh minute, taking advantage of a penalty corner. Katie George took a shot from the right side and Lilly Branka tipped it home for a 2-0 edge for the visitors. In the 15th minute, another penalty corner led to another goal for the Panthers, with Katherine Lantzy passing the ball to Amy Griffin, who shot it off a Bates defender and into the cage as time expired in the quarter.

The Bobcats (4-3, 2-2 NESCAC) battled the top ranked team in the country to a standstill after the rough first quarter, out-shooting the visitors 10-5 over the final 45 minutes of action, and 12-10 for the game.

They finally broke through in the 49th minute, taking advantage of a penalty corner. Junior captain Paige Cote (Auburn, Maine) had her shot blocked, but junior captain Sarah Bussell (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) ripped a shot from the right side of the cage that junior Kami Lambert (Augusta, Maine) tipped in from the left corner for her third goal of the season. 

But the Panthers answered a few minutes later, with George scoring on an impressive off-balanced shot that went top shelf after she twisted around a Bates defender. 

Senior Grace Biddle (State College, Pa.) came off the bench and played 45 minutes in the cage, allowing just one goal and making a pair of saves. Grace Harlan earned the win for the Panthers, making three saves along the way.

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday when they visit Thomas College for a contest that gets underway at 5pm.