MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s soccer team earned a home win and a road tie in NESCAC play this past weekend and then won a non-league road game on Tuesday to improve to 9-1-3 and 4-1-3 in the conference. That record is good enough for third place in NESCAC play heading into the Panthers’ final two games, at home on Saturday at 11 a.m. vs. Bates and at Williams on Tuesday. The Panthers are ranked No. 15 in NCAA Division III.
On this past Saturday, Middlebury and host Trinity finished in a scoreless draw. Trinity’s Alex Steel and Middlebury’s Daniel O’Grady each hit the post in the second half, and Trinity goalie Domenic Quade made a big save on Drew Goulart down the stretch. Threats were few in overtime.
Goalie Greg Sydor made five stops for the Panthers, and Quade recorded six saves for the 6-5-2 Bantams.
On Sunday, the Panthers defeated visiting Wesleyan, 2-0. The Cardinals dropped to 5-7-1 and 2-6 in league play.
The Panthers netted the first goal of the match at 30:29, when Goulart netted the rebound of a Kirk Horton shot.
Ten minutes into the second half, O’Grady made it 2-0. Greg Conrad touched the ball from the left side to O’Grady in the middle of the Wesleyan penalty area, and he put a low shot into the right corner of the net.
The Panther defense was stellar in the second half, not allowing a shot. Middlebury outshot the Cardinals, 16-8, and Cardinal goalie Jack Katkavich made six saves.
Sydor finished with three saves for his seventh shutout of the season. He moved into sole possession of third place in the program’s record books for career shutouts with 23.
On Tuesday, the Panthers picked up a 3-1 non-league victory at Colby-Sawyer. The Chargers fell to 8-5-1 and saw their five-match winning streak end.
Middlebury opened the scoring 5:13 into the match, when Goulart fired a shot from a tough angle along the end line that hit off Charger keeper Jake Towle and crossed the goal line.
Colby-Sawyer tied the match in the 31st minute, when Jake Sykes buried the rebound of a shot off the post.
With 5:20 left before halftime, O’Grady one-timed home a centering pass from Shams Mohajerani to make it 2-1.
Goulart made it 3-1 in the 67th minute by knocking in the rebound of a Jed Sass shot.
Sydor made one save for his 30th career victory, while Towle recorded 10 stops for the Chargers. Middlebury held a 23-10 edge in shots.