The Middlebury men's soccer team netted a goal in each half, as the Panthers (8-2-1) posted a 2-0 shutout over visiting Eastern Nazarene on Wednesday. This marked the first meeting between the two programs. Middlebury returns to NESCAC play on Saturday with a road contest at Colby with a 2:00 p.m. start, while the Lions (8-5) are home on the same day at 4:00 p.m. against Lesley.

The Panthers claimed an early lead, getting on the scoreboard in the opening 10 minutes. Jordan Saint-Louis created space along the goal line, offering a cross to the left side where Liam Sloan one-touched the pass into the net for his first tally of the season.

The Lions had a good opportunity to knot the score on a corner kick with 15:50 showing on the clock. Leonardo Castro took the corner from the left flag and a charging Bryan Vargas headed the ball just wide of the near post.

In the second half, the hosts doubled their advantage with 22:08 remaining. Andrew Juarez sent a cross from the left side that Jonah Roberts headed into the upper-right corner for a 2-0 cushion.

Juarez nearly added a goal in the final 10 minutes when Eastern Nazarene goalie Antonio Soto Valente was on the ground after knocking away a 50-50 ball. Juarez lifted a shot over the goalie, but Lion defender Carlos Moya stepped in front of the shot on the goal line to keep the difference at two.

Middlebury goalie Ryan Grady ran his streak of not allowing a goal to 358:21, making six saves for his seventh shutout of the season.Soto Valente also made six stops for Eastern Nazarene.

The Panthers held a 20-16 advantage in shots and doubled up the Lions in corner kicks, 8-4.