An early goal was all Middlebury needed in a hard-fought 1-0 win at Skidmore Wednesday night on Wachenheim Field. The Thoroughbreds fall to  9-4, while the Panthers snap a two-game losing streak to go to 7-3-1.

Skidmore came out strong with two shots on goal in the first five minutes, but the Panthers settled down and created their own chances. In the ninth minute, Middlebury's Scarlett Kirk rifled a shot toward an empty net for her team's first scoring opportunity, but Skidmore defender Caty Sheridan quickly moved in to clear the ball off the line.

The Panthers kept the pressure on, getting on the board first at 19:11 when Amy Schlueter fired home a rebound from two yards out. The play started with a Devin Perkins header that Thoroughbred goalie Megan Sleezer knocked down right to a waiting Schlueter.

The second half featured end-to-end play with both teams creating chances, but unable to finish.  

Skidmore held a 15-11 edge in shots, while Middlebury had a 5-1 corner advantage. Meghan Sleezer had five saves for the Thoroughbreds.  Jocelyn Remmert and Elizabeth Foody combined for the shutout with Remmert stopping five shots in the first half and Foody making two saves in the second. 

Skidmore is at Utica College on Sunday at 1 p.m.  Middlebury hosts Trinity on Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.

BOX SCORE