The Middlebury women's soccer team fell by a 3-0 score to host and fourth-ranked Misericordia during the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Dallas, Pennsylvania. Winners of the 2021 NESCAC Championship, the Panthers conclude their season with a 13-4-3 mark. The Cougars (20-1-0) advance to the Sectional Semifinal next Friday where they will square off with #3 William Smith, a 2-1 victor over Hamilton.
 
The hosts looked to get on the scoreboard in the 16th minute when a corner kick found the head of Ally Waite, but Middlebury goalie Sydney Poppinga punched away Waite's bid.
 
The Panthers had a good scoring chance midway through the half when Ellie Bavier worked down the right side, blasting a left-footed shot from 20 yards out, but was stopped by Misericordia keeper Alexis Benedetto diving to her right. In the 38th minute, Middlebury's Fanny Lodge sent a hard shot from the right that sailed just over the crossbar to keep the contest scoreless.
 
The Cougars opened the scoring with exactly 3:00 left in the first half. Emma Sweitzer received a through ball from Emma Przyhocki, as Sweitzer utilized a left-footed shot from 15 yards out that tucked just inside the right post. 
 
Out of the halftime break, Lodge ripped a shot from 30 yards that Benedetto corralled in the 54th minute. The Panthers looked for the equalizer in the 58th minute when Gretchen McGrath sent a cross to the left foot of Eliza Van Voorhis, but Van Voorhis' volley was just wide to the left of the post.
 
Misericordia doubled its lead with just under 24 minutes remaining, collecting a loose ball in the Panther end of the pitch. Sweitzer sent a rising shot over the head of Poppinga from just inside the box for her second goal of the match.
 
Michaela Fasolino provided the final 3-0 margin for the Cougars with a bending shot from 20 yards out that worked past the hand of a diving Poppinga with 12:15 showing on the clock. 
 
The Panthers applied pressure in the final minutes, but were unable to find the back of the net, falling 3-0.
 
Misericordia held a 23-14 shot advantage and a 10-2 edge in corner kicks. Poppinga tallied 10 saves in 77:45 of action, while Lucy VanNewkirk played for the final 12:15 for the Panthers. Benedetto was credited with five stops for the Cougars.