CORTLAND, N.Y. — The Middlebury College men’s soccer team’s run to the NESCAC tournament final, even with a 1-0 loss to top-seeded Tufts in the title game, was enough to earn the 12-6 Panthers a bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.
Coach David Saward, who after this season will be retiring after 33 years and, so far, 359 wins, will be leading a team into the NCAA tournament for the 11th time and first time since 2010. Saward’s 2007 team earned the NCAA title.
The Panthers will play in an NCAA regional hosted by Cortland State (15-3) that includes unfamiliar foes. Middlebury will take on Stevens Institute (11-6-2) on Saturday. If the Panthers advance, they will on Sunday face the winner of a Cortland-Mount St. Mary (12-7) matchup.
 Middlebury played none of those teams this fall, and only one, Mount St. Mary, has a foe in common with the Panthers. Amherst defeated Mount St. Mary, 2-1, and Middlebury knocked off the Mammoths, 1-0.
The Panthers are stingy defensively, and goalie Jeremy Yeager allowed 0.92 goals per game and posted 10 shutouts.
Sophomore Drew Goulart leads the attack with five goals and four assists, and Brandon Reid has netted three goals. Each scored overtime game-winners in the NESCAC tournament.
Three Panthers have two goals apiece: Ben Potter, who has also set up three goals; Daniel O’Grady, who has one assist; and Jed Sass.