The 20th-ranked Middlebury men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Williams in the regular-season finale. The Panthers secured a top-four seed in the NESCAC Tournament and will host a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday. The opponent and time of the game will be announced Wednesday night.  
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Williams had its first chance when Sam Gibson volleyed a shot just inside the 18 that Panther goalie Ryan Grady dove to his right to save at the 3:22 mark.
• On a set piece by the Ephs with 19:38 expired, Cole Morriello ripped a bending shot that Grady came off his line and jumped to save.
• The Panthers looked to score less than a minute later, but Andrew Juarez's shot sailed just over the crossbar.
• Middlebury had its best chance of the half with 39:44 elapsed. Liam Sloan blasted a shot from just inside the box that an Eph defender blocked. The loose ball deflected toward Williams' goalie Ben Diffley and Panther Brendan Barry, who was charging on the far post. The two players met and challenged for the ball, but Diffley fell on it to send the match into halftime scoreless.
• With 2:56 elapsed in the second stanza, Williams' Brady Foehl headed a shot from eight yards that Grady punched over the crossbar.
• The Panthers had a pair of great scoring chances in the 53rd and 55th minutes. Juarez headed an effort toward the right post that Diffley saved, while Alem Hadzic's knuckling blast from 20 yards out sailed just high.
• The Ephs looked to grab the lead at the 75:15 mark, but Grady lunged to his right and punched a rising shot by Jake Peters over the bar. 
• Williams tallied the lone goal with 7:57 remaining in the contest. A throw-in bounced in the box before finding the head of Nick Boardman, who flicked the ball toward the right post. Foehl was on the pipe and blasted the ball into the center of the net past Grady.
• The Panthers looked for the equalizer in the final minutes, but Jordan Saint-Louis' bending shot with 2:23 left took a bad bounce and skidded just left of the post.

 NOTES

• Grady tied his season-best total with seven saves, including four in the second half.
• Middlebury will continue its streak of competing in every NESCAC Tournament when it plays in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Panthers are one of just three teams to qualify for every tournament.