Women’s Soccer Finishes Season Second in NESCAC

Middlebury women’s soccer fought valiantly in the final stretch of the season, and suffered the team’s first loss of the season with Tuesday’s final game against Williams. The Panthers managed to win both games on the weekend of Oct. 13 and 14. The victories boasted equally impressive scores, when Middlebury crushed Trinity 4-1 and then followed up that performance with a five-goal shutout against Wesleyan. 

This past Saturday, Oct. 20, the Panthers played Bates at home for Homecoming Weekend. Like many of Middlebury’s previous opponents, Bates was unable to contain the blue and white. Middlebury won 3-1.

Sophomores Maggie Moskun and Eliza Van Voorhis and junior Sabrina Glaser each put one in the net for Middlebury. The goals helped the Panthers rally for the win despite an early goal from Bates.

The weekend brought much excitement, many alumni and even more fans. “We draw on energy from each other during the games but more important we draw on energy from the fans,” said senior captain Amanda Dafonte. “We have had so many amazing supporters coming out with signs and cheering loudly [regardless of weather]. It gives everyone such a great boost and makes that run that seems impossible possible.”

“We have had an amazing season and owe it to ourselves to finish the regular season the way we started it — with wins,” continued Dafonte. “Our motto this season has been ‘one game at a time.’ We never look back at what we’ve done and we never look past the game right ahead of us. Every single team in the NESCAC is competitive and every game is a challenge.”

Where Middlebury came up short, unfortunately, was their final game of the regular season against their Route 7 rival, Williams College. After a hard-fought battle, Williams emerged victorious, 0-1. The match was predictably close, since the Ephs were ranked third amongst Division III women’s soccer teams, and the Panthers fifth. 

Although Middlebury outshot Williams 9-4, the Panthers had trouble connecting the ball to the back of the net. Goalie Eva Shaw made one save, while the Williams goalie, Olivia Barnhill, made five. The Panthers also had a chance to tie the game in the 78th minute, when Ellie Greenberg ’20 received a pass from Virginia Charman ’20 in the box. Greenberg’s shot was then denied by Barnhill.

Women’s soccer’s loss was the first of its season, and will finish the regular season with a record of 13-1-1. The team will begin the NESCAC tournament this Saturday as the second seed, playing seventh seed Bowdoin at 12:30 p.m.