One goal is all Bates needed as the Bobcats (5-7-1) knocked off 5th ranked Middlebury (11-2) 1-0 on homecoming weekend in Vermont. The Panthers had won four straight games and had allowed just three total goals in their previous 12 contests. Middlebury needs a win at Williams next Friday to secure the top spot in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament, while several other tie-breaking scenarios also exist.
Middlebury had a nice chance to score early, as Carson Cornbrooks missed just wide in the 20th minute after beating a pair of defenders. Bates answered with an opportunity of their own five minutes later, when Patrick Jackson's blast sailed over the crossbar after a header pass from David Wood.
Middlebury's Tyler Macnee just missed with a blast in the 27th minute, while Tyler Smith was denied by a save by Bates keeper Greg Watts in the 31st minute.
Bates scored the game's only goal at 38:08 when John Murphy netted his third of the season, unassisted. After a restart, Murphy blasted a perfectly placed shot into the top of the net from 23 yards out.
Middlebury kept up the pressure in the second half, outshooting Bates 9-1, but could not earn the equalizer. Robbie Redmond was denied from 25 yards out five minutes into the second half, with the rebound being cleared after a scrum. Smith just missed with a header in the box at 70:08, after taking a cross from Redmond. Their final chance came at 77:42, as Harrison Watkins took a cross from Cornbrooks and then saw his shot denied by Watts, who made his fourth save of the game to earn the shutout.
Box Score
