MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s soccer team won once and tied once in recent games and stand at 3-3-2, 2-2-1 in league play. The Panthers return to action on Saturday at Tufts.
On this past Saturday, the Panthers breezed to a 4-0 victory over visiting Colby (3-4-1, 0-4-1 NESCAC).
The Panthers broke the ice at 13:55. Adrianna Gildner chased down a ball on the right side of the Colby net, dribbled toward the middle and sent a ball to Grace Woroch. After a pair of dribbles, Woroch found the top-left corner from 12 yards away.
With 31 seconds left before the half, Katherine Hobbs converted a cross from Amy Martin, who had gained possession in the right corner and sent a cross into the box, and the Panthers led by 2-0 at the break.
The Panthers increased their lead to 3-0 at 64:26, when Jamie Soroka ripped a shot from 25 yards away that tucked inside the far post. About eight minutes later, Hannah Robinson sent a low cross into the box that Gildner tapped in on the far post for a 4-0 Middlebury lead.
The Panthers concluded the match with a 24-5 advantage in shots and a 3-2 edge in corner kicks. Panther goalie Emily Eslinger made four saves to earn the win and her first shutout this fall and sixth of her career, while Ashley Conley made 10 stops for the Mules.
On Monday, in a game postponed from last week by rain, the Panthers tied host Keene State, 3-3. The Panthers led by 3-0 with 23 minutes remaining before Keene (5-3-2) rallied.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the 12th minute on an Amanda Haik free kick. About 10 minutes later, Gildner doubled the lead when her shot to the far post nicked off the crossbar and into the net.
With just six seconds left in the half, Gildner made it 3-0 on a 28-yard free kick past KSC goalie Dani Warhall (10 saves).
The Owls broke through when Tori Laires headed in a corner kick in the 68th minute. The hosts later scored twice in 23 seconds, with goals from Shannon Summers and then Sierra Trzepacz at 83:52.
In overtime, Warhall stoned Woroch in the first extra session, then kept out a Robinson header and a Gildner effort in the second. Eslinger totaled three saves for Middlebury, which finished with a 19-9 advantage in shots.