The Basics
• Score: #1 Middlebury-4, #2 Johns Hopkins-1
• Records: JHU (22-1) • MC (22-0)
• Location: Hartford, CT • Robin L. Sheppard Field
• The Short Story: Top-ranked and three-time defending champion Middlebury beat the second-ranked Johns Hopkins field hockey team, 4-1, in the NCAA Championship Sunday afternoon at Trinity College.
 
How it Happened
• Middlebury grabbed the early lead with a pair of first-quarter goals. The Panthers struck first after a flurry of shots in front of the Blue Jay cage. Sophomore Alexis Loder made two stops before the Panthers' Katie George was able to slip one into the back of the goal at 6:35. Erin Nicholas then converted a penalty stroke at 1:07 to stake Middlebury to a two-goal lead.
• Audrey Lazar nearly gave the Panthers a three-goal lead with 6:24 to play in the third, but senior Bailey Schwab was there to clear the ball away. Just 16 seconds later however, George collected a loose ball in the circle and back-handed a shot into to the cage to push Middlebury's lead to 3-0.
• The Panthers pushed the lead to four as they capitalized on a penalty corner with 11:02 to play in the fourth. Joan Vera inserted the corner to Nicholas, who hit a hard shot from the top of the circle and into the cage.
• Hopkins ended Middlebury's bid at a shutout late in the fourth quarter. Amidst a flurry close to the goal line, Tessa Erickson was able to beat Grace Harlan to make it a 4-1 game with 3:09 to play. The Panthers came right back on the other end but a Loder save and an Anna Scott defensive save thwarted the Panthers.

Quoting Coach Wells
"I'm really proud of the team, we had an incredible season. It was great to get the opportunity to play against so many NESCAC teams in our run through the NCAA Tournament. We don't normally get that opportunity, so it was great to test ourselves. To end our season at 22-1 with two great games on astroturf was phenomenal."

"We definitely look to contend, to have those back-to-back national championships and to push ourselves to grow as players and as coaches; to continue our efforts in bringing in the very best athletes. It's been incredible to see how much the program has grown over the last four years. I'm really grateful for all the players' dedication and hard work. We have really special women and athletes on our team. They work so hard for each and it's really amazing to see the result of all that effort."
 
What it Means
• Today's game was Hopkins' first-ever appearance in the national championship game. The Blue Jays end the season with a school-record 22 wins and the program's first-ever 20-win season. 
• This was the first meeting between Hopkins and Middlebury.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Loder finished with a career-best 11 saves for the Blue Jays. It is the most saves by a Blue Jay since September 20, 2017. In addition, it is tied for the second most saves by a Hopkins goalie in an NCAA Tournament game.
• Schwab notched her third defensive save of the season, while Scott had her fourth defensive save. Scott's four defensive saves are the most since 2016.
• Erickson's goal was her career-best ninth of the season.
• Loder, Scott and senior Abby Birk were all named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.