Throwback Thursday: This day in 1988, Vigsnes’s goal caps off solid weekend

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we revisit a strong performance by the Middlebury men’s soccer team. On this day in 1988, the Panthers capped off a successful weekend in Maine with two consecutive victories. After a commanding 4–0 win over Bates on Friday, the team outlasted Colby in a 2–1 overtime victory on Saturday.

Colby struck first in the contest with a goal 20 minutes into the game, but this lead wouldn’t last after an equalizer from Middlebury’s sophomore forward Tom Murray ’91. Strong defensive stances from both teams kept the game level through the end of regulation and the first overtime period. With 3 minutes left to play in the second overtime, Middlebury finally caught its break. On a Middlebury attack, Andrew Krugman ’90 fired a shot which struck the post and took a bounce in front of the net. Brian Foss ’89 burst onto the scene and sent a shot of his own toward the goal, which deflected off forward Erik Vigsnes ’89 and into the back of the net. The senior co-captain’s goal would prove to be the winning tally. 

Despite an 8-4-2 record, the 1988 men’s soccer team would go on to miss the ECAC New England playoffs.