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Anna Sawin

#3 Men’s Soccer Earns Top Seed & Hosting Rights for NESCAC Tournament

The Middlebury men's soccer team has earned the top seed and hosting rights for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament.
The third-ranked Middlebury men's soccer team has earned the top seed in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament. The Panthers begin their quest for a fourth conference crown when they host eighth-seeded Williams on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. in quarterfinal play.
 
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY
  • Middlebury has made an appearance in every NESCAC Tournament since its inception in 2000. Amherst and Williams are the only other programs who share that distinction.
  • The Panthers have claimed 25 victories in tournament history and have advanced to the championship match on 10 occasions, which is tied for most finals appearances in the league.
  • Middlebury will look to secure its first NESCAC title since 2010 and its fourth overall. The Panthers earned the top-seed in the conference tournament for the first time since 2008.
  • This season, Middlebury has had a balanced scoring output as 14 different players have accounted for the team's 39 goals. The Panthers are one of only five unbeaten teams left in the country, including NESCAC foe #7 Connecticut College
  • Middlebury leads the conference in assists (32) and have allowed the least amount of goals, letting in only eight on the year. The squad also ranks second in the NESCAC in points (110) and goals (39). 
  • The Panthers concluded the regular season with an unblemished 11-0-4 mark, becoming the first squad to achieve the feat since the 1998 team. 
PANTHERS TO WATCH
  • Up top, Jordan Saint-Louis has been prolific so far this year. The Panther sits atop the NESCAC with eight assists and is tied for the league lead in points (24) and game-winning goals (four). The forward is also tied for second in the league with eight goals. Saint-Louis has been perfect from the dot this year, converting four-of-four penalty kicks. 
  • Gavin Randolph has partnered Saint-Louis in attack throughout the year. The junior has found the back of the net on six occasions, which is second-most on the team, while also contributing four helpers. Randolph has heated up as the season has progressed, tallying a pair of markers and two assists over the last five games.
  • Kyle Nilsson has added a spark in midfield, tallying seven assists, which is the second-most in the NESCAC. Tyler Payne has been a force for Middlebury, starting all 15 contests so far this season. The midfielder has scored five times, including two goals in his last three games. 
  • Middlebury's defensive unit has allowed just eight goals throughout the entire season. Luke Madden, William O'Brien and Hank Nelson have each started all 15 games, playing over 1,200 minutes each. The trio has anchored a defense that has shutout opponents in seven of the last nine games. 
  • In between the sticks, Ryan Grady has been sensational, pacing the conference in a plethora of categories including goals against average (.542), save percentage (.860) and shutouts (nine). Grady's nine clean sheets is tied for sixth in the single-season record books, while his 38 career shutouts is the most in Middlebury school history.
ABOUT WILLIAMS
  • The Ephs qualified for the NESCAC Tournament for the 23rd-straight season and are searching for their seven conference title.
  • Williams has advanced to the championship match on ten occasions, most recently in 2018. 
  • The Ephs concluded the regular season with an 8-5-2 overall record and a 3-5-2 mark in conference. 
  • Williams has a diverse scoring output, as 13 players have scored the team's 19 goals, with 17 of those goals being assisted.
EPHS TO WATCH
  • The duo of Andrew Coelho and Jeff Stauffer have each had impressive rookie campaigns, tying for the team lead in goals (three). Coelho also leads the squad in points (nine), while tallying three helpers on the year.
  • In the midfield, Mohamed Keussom paces the Ephs with four assists, while also firing in two goals on the season. Felipe Gutierrez is the engine for Williams, starting all 15 games, while playing the most minutes of any midfielder (1,032).
  • Eamon Gara Grady and Griffin Labonski have seen the most action in the Ephs defense this year, playing 1,183 and 1,083 minutes, respectively. 
  • Ben Diffley has played the bulk of the minutes in net for Williams this season, boasting the second-best goals against average (.685), save percentage (.825), and shutouts (eight) in the NESCAC.
SERIES HISTORY
  • The NESCAC Quartefinal matchup will mark the 76th meeting in the all-time series, with Williams holding a slight 35-30-10 edge.
  • The programs faced off in the final match of the regular season on Tuesday, with Middlebury emerging with the 1-0 victory. 
  • The Panthers and the Ephs have met 11 times in NESCAC Tournament play, with Williams owning a 7-4 edge during that span.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
  • Quarterfinals will occur at the top-four seeds on Saturday, October 28. The remainder of the tournament will be hosted on Saturday, November 4 (Semifinals) and Sunday, November 5 (Championship) at the highest remaining seed. 
  • Championship Central
  • NESCAC Seeding Announcement
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