MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s soccer team split two recent NESCAC matches to finish the regular season with a 6-4-5 record, including a 4-3-3 record within the league that has earned the Panthers the No. 6 seed for the NESCAC playoffs.
Middlebury will open the playoffs on the road this Saturday at No. 3 Amherst at a time to be announced. Williams (13-1-1, 9-1 NESCAC), which the Panthers upset on Tuesday, is the top seed.
On Tuesday, Middlebury scored twice in the final 10 minutes to knock off the Ephs, 2-0. Williams entered the game having allowed just five goals this season.
Jamie Soroka and Hannah Robinson had chances for Middlebury earlier, but the game-winner came at the 80:30 mark, when sophomore Rebecca Palacios scored the first goal of her career and freshman Amanda Dafonte picked up her first career assist. Dafonte sent in the ball from the right side before Palacios one-touched it into the back of the net.
Amanda Hotvedt gave the Panthers insurance with 1:39 remaining, redirecting another Dafonte cross into an open right side of the net.
Middlebury finished the game with a 15-8 shots advantage. Panther goalie Kate Reinmuth made three saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season, while Eph goalie Tressa Palcheck stopped four shots.
On Saturday, the Panthers saw a seven-game unbeaten streak come to an end with a 2-0 loss at Bates (6-5-3, 3-3-3).
The Bobcats had two shots hit the post early on and took the lead in the 32nd minute, when Karen Lockhart headed in an Allison Hill corner kick off a Middlebury defender.
In the 42nd minute, Hotvedt beat Bates keeper Sarah McCarthy, but Hill cleared her shot off the goal line.
In the second half, Middlebury managed seven shots but the Bates defense held, and Hill made another crucial defensive save in the 72nd minute. In the 83rd minute, Olivia Amdur found Leah Humes to put Bates up, 2-0.
Middlebury held a 14-9 shots advantage. Reinmuth finished with two saves.