Middlebury wins the 2024 Cardinal/Panther Classic hosted by Plattsburgh in 2024. (Photo by Gabe Dickens)
Panther/Cardinal Classic: November 29-30, 2025
Hosted by Middlebury College – Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena
Saturday:
#9 Endicott (5-1-0) @ #4 Middlebury (4-0-1) – 3 pm ET
#1 Wisconsin-River Falls (5-1-0) vs #6 Plattsburgh (5-1-0) – 6 pm ET
Sunday:
Consolation – 2 pm ET
Championship – 5 pm ET
As the women’s tournament season begins in Division III, the first major event to watch with family over the holiday weekend is the Panther/Cardinal Classic hosted by Middlebury College. This tournament always features premier programs, and this year is no different, with #1 Wisconsin-River Falls representing the west, along with #6 Plattsburgh, #9 Endicott, & the host school #4 Middlebury. Endicott and Middlebury open the weekend at 3pm on Saturday, followed by Wisconsin-River Falls taking on Plattsburgh at 6pm. The losers will meet in the consolation game on Sunday at 2pm, while the winners advance to the championship at 5pm. All games will be played at the Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena.
For the first matchup, Endicott enters with a 5-1-0 record and sits at #9 in the national poll. Their only loss came against the University of New England, but they’ve since picked up wins including against a potential tournament opponent Plattsburgh, defeating them 3-1. Middlebury comes into the weekend ranked #4, sporting a 4-0-1 record while not allowing more than two goals in any game. They swept Wesleyan and earned a win over RV Hamilton before tying them 2-2 the next day and falling in the shootout 2-1.
The second Saturday matchup should draw significant attention as the top team in the country, Wisconsin-River Falls, looks to continue its strong play. UWRF holds a 5-1-0 record and opened its season with a statement win over #2 Augsburg, taking that game 4-0. The last time the Falcons were in this tournament was in the 2022-23 season, hosted by Plattsburgh. That year, River Falls won the event after defeating #3 Plattsburgh and #1 Middlebury by scores of 3-2 and 3-2 (OT). Before that run, River Falls had never beaten either team, largely due to very limited meetings (three vs Middlebury, two vs Plattsburgh).
Their opponent, SUNY Plattsburgh, comes into the weekend with a 5-1-0 record as well. They earned a 3-1 victory over #15 Norwich before dropping their next contest to Endicott. Defensively, the Cardinals have been one of the strongest teams in the country early on. They have only played two games where they allowed more than two goals all season, recording three shutouts and holding opponents to one goal in two additional games. That consistency in their own zone has been a major factor in their strong start entering the tournament.
Like the men’s side, this tournament is loaded with top-end talent. Wisconsin-River Falls senior Megan Goodreau enters the weekend with 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points, ranking her 8th nationally. For the Cardinals, goaltender Chloe Lewis has been terrific in her five starts, allowing only four goals and posting three shutouts, tying her for first nationally. She carries a .949 save percentage. Endicott’s goaltending has also been a major strength, led by standout Lauren Ferrari. Ferrari is 3-0 with a 1.32 GAA and a .962 save percentage. For the host Middlebury, look for Avery McInerny to continue her early-season production. She has 4 goals and 4 assists in 5 games, leading the team in goals and points.
This weekend should be one of the top events on the women’s side, with four of the top ten teams in the nation competing. Wisconsin-River Falls will try to replicate their 2022-23 success, while the other teams aim to knock off the #1 Falcons and claim the holiday tournament title. Games begin Saturday at 3pm and 6pm, followed by the consolation at 2pm Sunday and the championship at 5pm, all at the Chip Kenyon ’85 Arena.
