The fourth-seeded Middlebury women's soccer team claimed its fifth NESCAC Championship on Sunday afternoon via penalty kicks against second-seeded Wesleyan at Amherst. The contest ended 1-1 after two overtime stanzas, before the Panthers (12-3-3) edged the 14th-ranked Cardinals 3-2 in a penalty-kick shootout. 
 
Middlebury receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will wait for their opponent when the field is announced at 1:00 p.m. on Monday.
 
The Panthers had a great scoring chance with 15:56 elapsed. Eliza Robinson took a free kick from 40 yards out that just hit the post, before Cardinal goalie Sarah Hammand got a hand on the rebound to deny the opportunity. 
 
Middlebury looked to open the scoring during the 21st minute when Eliza Van Voorhis made a diving header attempt on a pass from Robinson, but the ball went just wide. 
 
The Panthers broke through at the 36:39 mark. Ellie Bavier sent a corner into the box from the left flag, before Rose Evans redirected the ball with her head, tucking it inside the left post for the 1-0 edge. 
 
Wesleyan responded less than 10 minutes later. An initial shot by Danielle Soto was denied by Middlebury keeper Sydney Poppinga, but Kate Hausladen was there to one-time the rebound into the left side to make it 1-1 at the 44:18 mark. 
 
There were no quality opportunities for either team during the second half or the first 10-minute overtime session. The best chance for the game-winner came at the 105:29 mark. Elise Morris sent a free kick into the box from midfield. Van Voorhis headed the ball to Joely Virzi, before her one-time header attempt was thwarted by Hammond.
 
Lucy VanNewkirk came off the bench for the penalty kick shootout, and for the second day in a row was outstanding in net. Van Voorhis buried the first Middlebury attempt for the 1-0 edge. On Wesleyan's initial shot, VanNewkirk dove to her right and just got a hand on the ball. After Sarah Guest gave Middlebury a 2-0 lead, Cardinals Caty Clements and Gianna Argento scored to knot the penalty kicks at two goals apiece. Isabella Di Benedetto gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead, before VanNewkirk dove to her right for the third time, denying the final Cardinal chance and secured the title for Middlebury. 
 
Panther Poppinga and Wesleyan's Hammond each made seven saves in goal for their respective teams. The Cardinals held a 21-14 advantage in shots during the contest, with each team taking three corner kicks.