MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s soccer team split two NESCAC games over the weekend. At 8-6, 4-5 in league play, the defending NESCAC champion Panthers can apparently nail down the No. 5 seed for the upcoming league playoffs with a win over visiting last place Wesleyan at 11 a.m. this Saturday.
On this past Saturday, the Panthers blanked visiting Bates, 2-0. The Bobcats dropped to 7-6, 3-5 in league play.
The Panthers took the lead at 22:45, when Claire Nishioka converted a Jamie Soroka through pass. About 11 minutes later, Moria Sloan added the insurance goal, taking a feed from Katlyn Casey and lofting a shot home.
Middlebury finished with an 8-7 shots advantage. Panther goalie Emily Eslinger made a pair of saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season, while Sarah McCarthy made two stops for the Bobcats.
On Sunday, host Williams improved to 12-1, 7-1 in NESCAC play, by edging the Panthers, 1-0.
Both teams had chances in the first half, with the Panthers’ coming from Nishioka, Hannah Robinson and Katherine Hobbs.
The Ephs scored six minutes after the break after some sustained pressure. Kristi Kirshe headed home an Alison Magruder cross.
Soroka nearly equalized in the 65th minute, but a defender made a kick save. The Eph goalie finished with four saves, while Eslinger recorded one stop, although the Ephs earned edges of 11-9 in shots at goal and 6-1 in corner kicks.