MIDDLEBURY, NY – A promising season for the #12 Nazareth women's hockey team came to a close on Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Flyers were nipped 1-0 by #4 Middlebury in the NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Quarterfinals.

Middlebury advances to the semifinals and will square off against #3 Amherst on March 28. Amherst defeated Colby 4-1 on Saturday. 

Nazareth finishes the season 21-7-1, while Middlebury moves to 21-6-1. 

The 2024-25 season was the first in program history where the Golden Flyers delivered an NCAA Tournament win. Nazareth defeated #9 Endicott 4-2 in the first round. For the entire season, the Golden Flyers knocked off five ranked opponents. 

Nazareth had a great game from netminder McKinley Hoff who tied a season-high with 30 saves. The graduate student finishes with several Golden Flyer goaltending records, including saves (1,347), wins (63), save percentage (.944) and shutouts (32).

It was a fairly even first period with the Panthers holding an 11-6 edge in shots on goal.

The Panthers netted the only goal 13:20 mark of the second from Kate Flynn.

Nazareth had the lone power play in the game shortly after the Panthers goal, generating two shots, but not finding the net.

In the final period, Nazareth ramped up the pressure and outshot Middlebury 10-9, but were unable to break through. It was just the third time in 29 games that Nazareth was held off the scoreboard.

It was the final game in the purple and gold for Julia Holmes, who finishes as the all-time leader in games played with 126. In addition, Kate Cascio, Sydney Swanson, Ivey Lyden and Sami Quackenbush played in their final games for Nazareth.