MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s soccer team knocked off visiting NESCAC rival Amherst on Saturday, 1-0, to improve to 3-1, 1-1 in league play. The Purple & White, ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division III last week, dropped to 2-2, 1-1 NESCAC. The Panthers also defeated visiting Plattsburgh on Sept. 14, 4-1.
The Panthers were set to host Castleton on Wednesday after deadline and will host league foe Bowdoin on Saturday at 11 a.m.
In this past Saturday’s first half, the Panthers had the best chance, as Adrianna Gildner hit the crossbar from 25 yards out midway through the period.
The Panthers threatened again in the 52nd minute, but Amherst keeper Chelsea Cutler dove to deny Katherine Hobbs’ shot from 18 yards out.
Amherst had a pair of great opportunities in the 60th minute. After Panther keeper Ursula Alwang came out to cut down the angle after Hannah Guzzi cut in from the left side, the rebound went to Amherst’s Sloan Askins, but her shot at an apparent open goal was knocked away by Panther defender Amanda Haik.
Middlebury’s Emma Shumway scored the game’s only goal at 64:31. Amanda Hotvedt took a corner kick that Gildner touched to the middle from the goal line. Shumway was there for the quick one-timer into the net.
Amherst threatened again in the final three minutes, but Middlebury defender Clare Robinson broke up a threat from Laura Greer.
Middlebury held advantages of 10-8 in shots and 7-3 in corner kicks. Alwang made three saves in her first career start, and Cutler made a pair of stops for Amherst.
Vs. Plattsburgh, the Panthers scored three times in the second half to snap a 1-1 tie on the way to a 4-1 victory in their home opener. The 4-1 Cardinals suffered their first loss.
After the Cardinals took an early lead, the Panthers equalized on Abigail Blyler’s first career goal, a header on a Rebecca Palacios cross.
Hobbs broke the tie at 4:21 of the second, one-touching a ball in at the left post after it was sent across by Hotvedt.
The Panthers added two quick goals in the final 10 minutes, one from Blyler set up by Amy Martin and one from Shumway on a rebound of a Sabrina Glaser shot.
Kate Reinmuth played goal in the opening period without recording a save, and Alwang stopped one shot in the second period. Plattsburgh keeper Nichole Gibson finished with 10 saves, as the Panthers held a 23-3 advantage in shots.