Middlebury scored the match's only goal late in the first half as the Panthers netted a 1-0 women's soccer triumph Wednesday over Keene State on Dragone Field. The victory puts Middlebury at 6-2 on the season, while the Owls saw their modest three-game winning streak end, falling to 6-3. The Panthers return to NESCAC play on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with a road contest at Colby and Keene State hosts Plymouth State at 1:00 p.m.

The Panthers carried play early on with their best chance coming in the 16th minute. Katherine Hobbs carried the ball up the right side, cut into the Keene State penalty area and fired a low shot that Owl keeper Danielle Warhall made a diving save on.

Keene State had a quality chance late in the opening half when Taylor Farland laced a rising shot off the cross bar with just under five minutes showing on the clock.

Middlebury quickly countered, taking advantage of a direct kick from 40 yards out the next time the hosts crossed midfield. Rebecca Palacios placed the free kick into the penalty area and after the ball bounced between players, Amy Martin gained possession and ripped a shot under the cross bar. Martin's goal, her first of the season, came 40:59 into the half and put the hosts in front, 1-0.

The match remained a one-goal difference for the Panthers at the start of the second half with the Owls getting two good scoring opportunities in the first 13 minutes. Keene State's Katie Silegy had the first when she charged into the Middlebury penalty area with possession of the ball, but a nice takeaway by Panther defender Amanda Haik ended the threat. In the 58th minute, Farland found some shooting space and fired a hard, low shot that was corralled by Panther keeper Ursula Alwang.

Middlebury came close to adding an insurance goal in the 70th minute on a play generated by Adrianna Gildner. She worked the ball into the right corner and sent a cross to the far post, but Emma Shumway's one-touch went just left of the net.

Kate Reinmuth (one save) and Alwang (three saves) each played a half to combine for the shutout, while Warhall finished with nine stops. The Panthers held a 17-8 edge in shots and took all three of the match's corner kicks.