Middlebury earned its eighth shutout of the season, picking up a 1-0 NESCAC victory over #14 Amherst (5-1-3, 1-1-3) on Saturday afternoon. The loss is the first of the year for the Jeffs, while #19 Middlebury moves to 8-1 overall, 4-1 in NESCAC play.
Amherst had the better of the play in the first half, holding a 10-1 shots advantage. The Jeffs had a nice chance in the 36th minute, but Spencer Noon's header was just wide after a cross from Thebe Tsatimpe. Middlebury's Tyler Macnee answered shortly after, but his shot was turned away. The Jeffs' best chance to score in the contest came with under a minute to play in the first half. Ian Rothkopf blasted a shot from 10 yards outside the box, but Middlebury keeper Tim Cahill made a spectacular save to deny him and keep the game scoreless.
Middlebury turned up the pressure in the second half, with Macnee just missing from 25 yards out at the 74:30 mark. The Panthers kept coming seconds later, when service from Jake Edwards resulted in a scrum that was eventually cleared away by the Jeffs.
The game's only goal came at 78:01, when Martin Drolet scored his third of the season. Carson Cornbrooks took the original shot that was saved, as Drolet was there to finish the rebound for the game-winner.
The Jeffs threatened late, but Cahill stopped Julien Aoyama from inside the box with five minutes remaining to preserve the shutout.
Amherst held a 13-7 shots advantage in the game, with an 8-1 lead in corner kicks. Cahill made five saves to earn the shutout, while Lennard Kovacs earned a pair of stops for Amherst.
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