AMHERST, Mass. — Despite being upset in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs, the Middlebury College men’s soccer team on Monday was awarded a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament.
The 10-3-3 Panthers will head to an NCAA Regional hosted by NESCAC rival Amherst (12-4-1) on this Saturday and Sunday.
At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday the Panthers will meet St. Josephs of Maine (20-0 against a less challenging schedule). The host Mammoths will meet Bridgewater State (11-7-1) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and the winners will square off on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Panthers did not face either St. Joseph’s or Bridgewater during the regular season, but defeated Amherst, 1-0, in Middlebury on Sept. 15.
First-year Coach Alex Elias’ Panthers had earned the No. 3 seed in the NESCAC tournament before being upset by No. 6 Williams, 1-0, on their home field. That setback snapped a Panther 10-game unbeaten streak.