MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s soccer team won two recent home games to improve to 10-2-1, 5-2-1 in NESCAC play. The Panthers return to action on Saturday at Bates.
On Saturday, the Panther rallied past visiting league foe Trinity (5-5-3, 2-5-1 NESCAC) to win in overtime, 2-1, as Kirk Horton scored both goals.
Trinity took the lead 8:48 into the contest with the strong breeze at its back. On a free kick from nearly 40 yards out on the right side, Sam Milbury lofted a knuckling ball that went over Middlebury goalie Greg Sydor and under the crossbar.
Middlebury had three good opportunities in the next 19 minutes. Adam Glaser hit the crossbar, and Trinity goalie Domenic Quade denied good bids by Tyler Bonini and Daniel O’Grady.
The second half saw the wind die down. The Panthers tied the match when Glaser sent a free kick from 45 yards away on the left side into the box and Horton tapped it home at the far post.
The Panthers nearly took the lead in the 90th minute. Conrad shot over Quade, but was saved by a Trinity defender at the far post.
Horton’s game-winning score came at 97:33 on a corner kick. Glaser found Horton alone about 14 yards away, and Horton sent a hard shot to the upper-right corner.
Middlebury held advantage in both shots (21-8) and corner kicks (8-2). Sydor made three saves, while Quade recorded seven stops for Trinity. A total of 44 fouls were called in the physical match.
On Tuesday, the Panthers blanked visiting Plymouth State, 5-0. Plymouth fell to 7-5-1. Glaser scored once and assisted two goals to set a new single-season program assist record at 10. Conrad tallied twice, and Tom Bean and Bonini also found the net.
Middlebury held advantages in both shots (35-4) and corner kicks (10-4). Sydor finished with three saves for his fifth shutout this season and 13th of his career, while Danny Marsh was credited with 12 stops for the visitors.