Hartford, Conn. – Senior forward Kelly Sherman (Washington, D.C.) scored the game-winning goal after a scrum in the crease with just 1.1 seconds left in overtime to give the visiting Middlebury College Panthers their second 2-1 overtime victory over the Trinity College Bantams in as many days this afternoon in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) women's ice hockey action this afternoon at Williams Rink.  Trinity drops to 0-2 with its fifth loss in a row to the Panthers, having suffered its last three defeats to them thanks to a 3-1 loss in the NESCAC Semifinals to close the 2015-16 season.  The No. 5-ranked Panthers improves to 2-0.

The setback was gut-wrenching for the Bantams, as they killed off six of seven penalties in regulation including all three of the third period before senior captain Allie Bravi (Montreal, Quebec) was called for interference with 1:59 left in the extra session.  Trinity junior forwards Melissa Maffeo (Melrose, Mass.) and Kelcie Finn (Weymouth, Mass.) both got off decent shots while Trinity played short-handed in the final 90 seconds, but Middlebury rookie goalie Lin Han (Toronto, Ontario) made saves on both.  Bantam first-year goaltender Kai-Lilly Karpman (Playa Del Ray, Calif.) made a clutch stop on a shot by Panther sophomore Jenna Marotta (Katy, Texas) inside the last minute, but the Panthers controlled the last face off and Sherman stuffed the puck in from close on the left side on a rebound of her own shot for the clinching goal.

Middlebury struck first when senior defender Carly Watson (Montpelier, Vt.) converted on the third of three Panther power plays in the opening 20 minutes with an assist credited to first-year Anna Zumwinkle (Exclesior, Minn.).  Trinity nearly tied the score very early in the second frame, but a one-timer by first-year Alex Wallin (Wayzata, Minn.) was turned away by Han.  Moments later, Finn took a pass ahead from rookie Alex Sinson (Elm Grove, Wic.) and beat Han for the Bantam goal 3:30 after the first break.  The Panthers fought off a 5-on-3 situation later in the middle frame to keep the game tied despite a 16-to-11 shooting edge for the visitors. 

Trinity first-year defender Taylor Foy (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) foiled a 2-on-1 for the Panthers in the scoreless third period that featured just eight shots on goal and one by Trinity, and she blocked a Middlebury shot into an open net after the puck had gotten behind Karpman in the overtime.  Karpman finished with 25 saves in her collegiate debut, while Han had 15 stops for the Panthers.  Trinity was 0-for-5 on power plays.