MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The visiting Trinity College Bantams saw their 2023 season come to a close with a 22-9 setback against the Middlebury College Panthers in the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament at Kohn Field this afternoon.  The No. 13-ranked Bantams finish the year at 13-6, its highest win total since 2018, while top-ranked Middlebury improves to 20-0 and moves on to the quarterfinal round against College of New Jersey or Colby tomorrow at 1 p.m.  First-year attacker Molly McGuckin (Darien, Conn.) paced Trinity with four goals.

Trinity fell behind, 1-0, on a Panther goal by Jane Earley but tied it when McGuckin scored on a free position with 8:53 left in the first quarter.  Middlebury took a 5-1 lead after one quarter with a 4-0 run including two goals by Hope Shue.  The Bantam offense came alive with four goals in the second frame, including one each by junior Natalie Miller (Northport, N.Y.) and rookie Grace Denious (Wilton, Conn.) and a two in a 43-second span by McGuckin late in the period. The Panther offense countered with eight goals in the second quarter, however, and led, 13-5, at intermission.

Miller scored on a free position to make the score, 14-6, with 10:15 on the clock in the third quarter but Middlebury scored six in a row heading into the last break to make it, 20-6, and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.  The Bantams outscored the Panthers, 3-2, in the final quarter, including a pair of goals by senior tri-captain attacker Lily Ives (Chappaqua, N.Y.) and McGuckin's fourth of the game.

Trinity was doubled up in shots, 34-17, but scooped 13 ground balls to 12 for the Panthers.  Trinity forced 13 turnovers but committed 15. Neither team was issued a card.  Trinity junior defender Quincy Connell (New Canaan, Conn.) notched three caused turnovers and three ground balls, while goalies Alyssa Vitale (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Ali Macdougal (Southbury, Conn.) combined for nine saves.  Earley had nine points for Middlebury on five goals and four assists, while Annie Enrietto had five stops.   

"Getting to the NCAAs was one of the goals during preseason and I knew this team was not only fully capable of making it there, but also going far," said Ives.  "This senior class is small but mighty, and each of us played a different and crucial role. The dedication, heart, and pure joy is undeniably what brought the team to this point and I have no doubt that Trinity lacrosse will go far in years to come with its immense returning talent and incredible coaching staff."