MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College men’s soccer team won two recent games, including its NESCAC home opener, to move over .500 at 2-1-1.
The victories are the first for Coach Alex Elias, who took over the program this fall after assisting longtime Coach David Saward for several years. The Panthers will look to keep their momentum when they host Bowdoin on Saturday at noon.
On this past Saturday the Panthers got a late goal from Henry Wilhelm to knock off visiting Amherst, 1-0. The Mammoths (2-1) entered the day ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division III.
Chances were few. In the first half Panther Ben Potter headed a Drew Goulart cross just wide. Amherst’s best opportunity came in the waning minutes of the half, but Panther defender Michael McFarlane cleared away a dangerous centering pass.
Wilhelm scored by jumping on a loose ball in the Mammoth box and shooting low inside the left post for his first career goal with 18:50 remaining. Mammoth goalie Michael Stone finished with five saves. The Panthers held edges of 14-13 in shots at goal and 3-1 in corner kicks.
On Tuesday the Panthers breezed to a 4-0 win at Mt. St. Mary (4-4), scoring all their goals in the first half. Finding the net were Raffi Barsamian, from Drew Goulart; Ben Potter, twice; and Fazl Shaikh followed, from Shams Mohajerani. Hyer and MSM goalie Tyler Rapp each made two stops.