MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s soccer team clinched a home quarterfinal game this Saturday by defeating visiting Wesleyan this past Saturday, 3-1.
The Panthers (8-3-3, 5-2-3 NESCAC) will host a Saturday game. The time and opponent will be determined by the outcome of Wednesday games played after the deadline for this edition of the Independent.
On this past Saturday, Greg Conrad scored a hat trick to lead Middlebury over Wesleyan (7-5-2, 5-4 NESCAC). Wesleyan had two chances early, but Panther goalie Greg Sydor (five saves) dove to stop one.  
Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead 51:18 into the second half. Sydor stopped Danny Rubenstein’s original shot, but Adam Cowie-Haskell netted the rebound.
Conrad tied the game just 4:31 later, when Conrad banged home a ball that a Cardinal defender tried to head out of trouble.
The Panthers took a 2-1 lead at the 66:53 mark when Conrad one-timed home Adam Glaser’s flip pass over his own head.
Conrad completed the hat trick with 13 seconds left on a breakaway.
Middlebury finished with a 12-10 edge in shots, while Wesleyan held a 9-3 lead in corner kicks. Cardinal goalie Jack Katkavich made two saves.