Women's soccer ends in deadlock

Author: James Kerrigan

The Middlebury women's soccer team outplayed and out-shot both of their opponents last week, but suffered a 1-0 loss at Keene State and earned a 0-0 draw against divisional opponent Wesleyan. Despite dominating most of the possession, an errant cross found the back of the net in the 23rd minute - the goal was credited to Keene State midfielder Ali Corso. However, Middlebury poured on the pressure after giving up the first goal. A combination of some misfortune and quality goaltending by the Owl's keeper resulted in zero goals and the Panther's second loss of the season.

After the tough loss it would be natural to feel frustrated, but the women are optimistic and motivated. Ashley Varady '06 said, "It's always frustrating to play as hard as you can and not come away with a win, but now it's just a matter of time before things start coming together for us."

The women looked strong again on Saturday at Wesleyan but finished with a tie. The Cardinals wore red, but it was the Panthers who threatened to draw first blood throughout. That being said, Wesleyan put up a fight. Coach Kim commented that the Cardinals "battled hard, and were more organized than ever before." Middlebury had several point blank chances and numerous scoring opportunities, but they couldn't find the back of the net.

Despite the finishing problems upfront, the ball seldom got behind the Middlebury defense as they combined with first-year Adele Plunkett to earn the shutout. Their shape was precise and their tackling was effective. After a scoreless 90 minutes, the teams went into double overtime, but neither team could put the game away. The tie brought the Panthers to 2-2-1 record overall and 1-1-1 in NESCAC play.

The two divisional games this weekend should be a tough test for the women, as they will look to defend with the same intensity that they have been, while also capitalizing on their opportunities. The talented group certainly has the ability to score plenty of goals, which both players and coaches confidently expect.

Varady said, "We're an incredibly talented team, and I know that as we continue to play together, the wins will come." Coach Kim agreed, commenting, "We've fixed our issues one by one and this is our next task. We're looking forward to things clicking."

Next up for the women will be Colby at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and Bowdoin at noon on Sunday. With these important games coming up, the Panthers hope they can rebound from their recent struggles.