The fourth-seeded Middlebury women's soccer team (12-3-2) scored twice in the final 15:05 to force overtime, before edging top-seeded Amherst 4-3 in penalty kicks. The Panthers will look for their fifth NESCAC title when they make their third-straight appearance in the championship game on Sunday at noon. Middlebury will take on second-seeded Wesleyan, as the Cardinals make their debut in the conference championship. The 12th-ranked Mammoths (14-1-2) will wait to find out if they make the NCAA Tournament when the selection show airs on Monday at 1:30 p.m.
The Panthers applied some pressure in the opening minutes with
Eliza Robinson getting a pair of chances, but her shots were knocked down by the Amherst defense before reaching the net. The hosts then took advantage of a Middlebury hand ball in its own penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Ruby Hastie took the shot for the Mammoths, with Panther goalie
Sydney Poppinga getting a piece of the shot, but the momentum carried the ball into the net for a 1-0 Amherst edge with 29:55 on the clock.
Middlebury was awarded a free kick from the top of the Amherst box with just under 13 minutes remaining before the half. Fannie Lodge put a hard shot to the left side of the net for the Panthers, but Mammoth keeper Mika Fisher made a diving stop to protect the 1-0 lead.
The hosts doubled their advantage 2:04 into the second frame, as Patience Kum worked her way into the Panther box from the left side and tucked a shot inside the far post. The tally was her conference-leading 12th of the season.
Middlebury cut into the lead at the 64:55 mark after a penalty was called in the box.
Rose Evans stepped up to take the kick and buried the ball in the back of the goal to make it 2-1.
The Panthers found the equalizer with 83:45 expired in regulation. Evans sent a cross from the left flag to the far side where
Joely Virzi was there to one-time the ball into the upper left 90 to make it 2-2 and force overtime.
The best chance for either team to end the game came in the second overtime session with just five minutes remaining. Amherst's Sophie Fikke one-timed a pass that forced Poppinga off her line to deny the close-range attempt. Claire Nam rifled the rebound from just outside the 18, but her chance hit the crossbar and ricocheted back into play before a Middlebury defender cleared it away. The teams ended in a 2-2 tie after neither squad could produce a goal.
The Panthers and Mammoths were 1-1 after a pair of penalty kicks for each team. Middlebury continued its momentum with Shelly Guest and
Lucy VanNewkirk making it 3-1. Amherst rallied to convert a pair of kicks and make it 3-3.
Cate Shellenback gave the Panthers a 4-3 edge, before goalkeeper VanNewkirk came up big with a save on the Mammoth's sixth shot, securing a spot for Middlebury in the championship game.
The Panthers held a 16-15 edge in shots, while Amherst held the edge in corner kicks (9-8). Poppinga made seven saves for Middlebury during 110:00 of action, while Fisher made eight stops during the same span.
