MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s soccer team opened its season with a tie and a win in two recent home games. On Sunday, the Panthers and NESCAC rival Connecticut settled for a 1-1 stalemate, and on Sept. 9 the Panthers blanked visiting Colby-Sawyer, 4-0. The Panthers next play at Amherst on Saturday.
On Sunday, Connecticut came in ranked No. 19 in NCAA Division III. The Camels grabbed the lead at 13:51 when Annie Higgins dribbled the ball down the right side into the six-yard box and sent a low cross to Nicole Medina, who one-touched it into the left side of the goal past Middlebury starting goalie Emily Eslinger.
The Panthers knotted the score soon afterward in a rainy contest. Grace Woroch picked up a loose ball on the right sideline and sent a long, hard crossing ball into the wind to Amy Martin. Martin made a quick move to her right and laced a hard shot to the upper right corner past goalkeeper Bryanna Montalvo at 18:07.
Middlebury’s best chance to take the lead came in the 58th minute, when Hannah Robinson ripped a shot from the right side about 20 yards out, forcing Montalvo to make a nice save going to her right.
The Camels’ best opportunity came with just over six minutes to go, but Higgins’ shot on a cross from the right sailed over the crossbar from eight yards.
Play opened up in the second overtime as the rain subsided. In the 102nd minute, Montalvo came off her line and denied a chance from the left side by a sprinting Jamie Soroka from 25 yards away.
About three minutes later, Soroka curled a free kick that forced Montalvo to make a diving stop. Montalvo also dove to stop Robinson’s shot from the 18 in the 108th minute.
The Panthers held a 17-14 edge in shots. Eslinger made two saves in the opening half, while Kate Reinmuth played the final 65:00 minutes and made four saves. Montalvo was credited with six stops.
On the previous Wednesday, the Panthers got on track following a long lightning delay. The Panthers got on the board at 18:37, when a Woroch through ball set up Martin, who ripped a shot home off Colby-Sawyer keeper Karley Hamilton.
The lead doubled at 25:10, when Katherine Hobbs converted a Soroka cross from the right side.
Robinson netted the team’s third of the game at 58:10; she one-touched in a Woroch pass through the middle. Emma Shumway scored the final goal on an individual effort from 15 yards out.
Middlebury finished the game with a 28-0 shots advantage. Hamilton made 13 stops for the Chargers. Reinmuth and Eslinger each played 45 minutes in the Panther goal.