MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The University of Chicago women's lacrosse team faced an uphill battle against the #2-ranked Middlebury Panthers on Saturday, falling 23-6 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Despite a valiant effort and moments of resilience, the Maroons were unable to overcome the Panthers' powerful offense. 

Middlebury came out strong from the opening whistle, quickly building an 11-1 lead in the first period. Chicago's lone first-half goal came from Evelina Swigart at the 4:50 mark, briefly cutting the deficit to 7-1. However, the Panthers would respond quickly with more unanswered goals, leaving the Maroons trailing 16-2 at the break.

In the second half, Chicago fought back with renewed determination. Jill Hooey found the back of the net twice, once early in the second quarter and again with 12:30 left in the fourth. Olivia Escoffery also contributed with two goals of her own, including one in the final minutes of the game, showing the Maroons' tenacity despite the overwhelming deficit.

Despite the offensive push in the final quarter, Middlebury's deep roster held strong. 

Chicago's offense struggled to find consistency against Middlebury's defense. The Panthers controlled possession for much of the game, limiting Chicago's offensive flow. The Maroons did their best to capitalize on opportunities when they came, but Middlebury's defensive pressure made it difficult to string together offensive runs.

While the final score may not have reflected the fight the team showed, Chicago's players never stopped battling. The Maroons ended the game with 6 goals, all of which came from their key offensive players: Hooey, Escoffery, Swigart, and Lulu Hardy.

The loss brings an end to Chicago's season. With a 13-5 record and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen, the Maroons finished out a fantastic year.