WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams defeated the Middlebury College women’s soccer team, 2-1, on Saturday in a NESCAC semifinal, ending the Panthers’ season with a 7-5-4 record and avenging the 16-1-1 Ephs’ only loss of the season.
The Ephs, ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division III, defeated Bowdoin, 2-0, in the NESCAC final on Sunday to earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Panthers lost despite outshooting Williams, 16-7, but the Ephs converted two chances in the first 6:35. Kristi Kirshe headed in a Jacqueline Simeon corner kick at 4:09 mark, and Mia Mitsuyama converted a penalty kick at 6:35.
Middlebury nearly got on the board in the 18th minute, when some nice passing resulted in a good look from Katherine Hobbs that sailed just high.
In the 33rd minute, Panther forward Adrianna Gildner ripped a 20-yard shot into the top corner from the right side past Eph keeper Tressa Palcheck to make it 2-1.
In the second half, Panther keeper Kate Reinmuth denied Kristina Alvarado with a big save to keep it 2-1.
As the final 10 minutes of the game approached, the Panthers created several opportunities that nearly became equalizers.
Gildner sent in a free kick into the heart of the penalty area from the right wing, but Palcheck denied Amy Martin’s effort.
Six minutes later, Palcheck came up with a diving save on Hannah Robinson after a corner kick.
Reinmuth finished with three saves, while Palcheck was credited with five.
The loss was just the second for the Panthers since the end of September: As well as defeating Williams in their final regular season game, they had also upset NESCAC No. 3 seed Amherst in a quarterfinal playoff game.