Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Logo of The Middlebury Campus
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Women’s soccer rebounds with 2-0 win to split the double-header

Despite opening the weekend with a tough 2-0 loss to conference opponent Trinity, the Panthers came out fighting on Sunday and put together a great team effort to shut out the Skidmore Thoroughbreds 2-0. Middlebury remains winless in the NESCAC, a surprising start for the 2009 runners-up in the NESCAC tournament, yet the Panthers improved their record to 2-2-1 with Sunday’s win.

Saturday’s game vs. Trinity, the Panthers’ home opener, quickly turned against the home team when Bantams’ forward Martha Dane collected a loose ball in the box just 14 minutes in and fired it into the right-hand corner of the net. Less than 10 minutes later, Trinity notched a second goal from close range, solidifying their lead and taking some of the wind out of the Panthers’ sails.

The Panther defense has undergone significant readjustment this season, and was shaken up again last weekend when stalwart center back Lucy Wagner ’13 tore her ACL in the Tufts game. As a result, tri-captain Drew Smith ’11 is splitting her time between center mid and the backfield “to give [the team’s] standout youngsters in the back a little bit of old timer support,” according to Smith.

“For a brand new back line, I think we have all been hugely impressed with the organization and composure that Colby, Lindsay and Anna have shown this weekend and on Wednesday at RPI,” added Smith.

Middlebury’s forwards put together some promising scoring chances of their own, but were thwarted by the play of the Bantams’ keeper Emily Weedon, who finished with nine saves on the day. The impressive play of first-year Scarlett Kirk ’14 resulted in Middlebury’s best scoring chance, but Weedon stuffed her shot to preserve the shutout. Kirk, at 5’9’’, rivals lanky fellow forward Annie Rowell ’11 for being the most intimidating presence on the field, and is a potent new offensive threat for the team. Despite outshooting Trinity 10-5, the Panthers were scoreless while the Trinity team saw two of their five shots find the back of the net.

Sunday’s game was an exhilarating turnaround for the Panthers, as the team displayed all the promise and potential that characterizes the skillful squad. Great work ethic, ball control and perseverance helped Middlebury wear down the Skidmore Thoroughbreds and secure a 2-0 victory.

“When our entire team increased our work ethic and our composure off the ball, we started creating offensive opportunities, and it was just a matter of time before we scored one,” said Amy Schlueter ’13, who scored both of the Panthers’ second-half goals.

There was a heightening sense of anticipation among the fans in attendance as they watched the Panthers string together beautiful series of passes and consistently control the speed and style of play. Middlebury returned to the dominating team performance that has been the hallmark of success in past seasons, and when Schlueter finally put in the first scrappy goal, off of a gorgeous corner kick by Nora Tomlinson-Weintraub ’11, few could disagree that it was well-deserved. Schlueter removed all doubt just two minutes later, however, with a laser launched from 25 yards out that scorched into the top of the net.

“She got us the scrappy one and the pretty one,” said Drew of Schlueter’s offensive contributions. “It was a great day for our Sharp Schlueter.”

Goal time for the Panthers was split between tri-captain Lauryn Torch ’11, who made six saves in the first half to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0, and Jocelyn Remmert ’13, who came in during the second half to preserve the shutout and earn the win.

“We haven’t had the smoothest or easiest of opening weeks but this team has huge potential and a lot of heart,” said Smith. “We’re committed to fixing the problems we’ve had on both sides of the ball, and a shutout against Skidmore was a good place to start.” The team will host Bowdoin this Saturday at 11 a.m., and should come out with all cylinders firing in vigorous pursuit of their first NESCAC win.

womensoccer-andrewpodrygula-color-2-of-3-300x199


Comments