Middlebury scored one goal in the first half and added two in the second on its way to a key NESCAC women's soccer victory Saturday over Trinity on Dragone Field. The Panthers (5-3-4, 3-2-3) earn three crucial conference points and return to the pitch on the road Wednesday at St. Lawrence at 6:00 p.m., while the Bantams (8-4, 4-3) host Wesleyan tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.

Middlebury looked to get on the board first in the 15th minute. Adrianna Gildner received a pass from Jamie Soroka and worked her way behind the Bantam defense. Gildner laced a shot that was blocked away by a Trinity defender and the subsequent rebound was stopped by Bantam goalkeeper Monica DiFiori.

The Panthers scored the eventual game-winning tally at 28:31. Amy Martin carried the ball down the right side and sent a cross to the feet of Gildner, who lofted a shot over a jumping DiFiori into the back of the net for her team-leading eighth goal this fall. The score remained a 1-0 advantage in favor of the hosts as the majority of action happened in the Middlebury offensive end.

Out of the halftime intermission, Middlebury kept the pressure up, peppering shots at the Trinity goal. The Panthers increased their lead to 2-0 at 49:10 when Martin sent a bouncing shot from right to left that tucked inside the far post for her third score of the season.

Middlebury completed the scoring in the 78th minute. Following a foul 40 yards out from the goalmouth, Hannah Robinson took the free kick. She sent in a curling ball that found the head of Alissa Huntington, who put a shot just under the crossbar for her first of the season.

The Panthers concluded the match with a 20-7 advantage in shots, but Trinity had a 4-0 edge in corner kicks. Kate Reinmuth finished with four saves to earn the win and her second shutout of the campaign and seventh of her career, while DiFiori made seven stops for the Bantams.