The #3/top-seeded Middlebury men's soccer team scored twice in the first half to blank eighth-seeded Williams 2-0 in NESCAC Quarterfinal action. With the win, the Panthers remain unbeaten (12-0-4) and will host the remainder of the tournament next weekend on South Street Field. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Ephs had the first quality chance of the game with just 2:39 expired. Tate Michelson served the ball into the box, but the Middlebury defense cleared it away. David Wang was at the top of the box waiting for the rebound, but his shot intended for the upper right corner was denied by a stretching save from Ryan Grady.
• The Panthers opened the scoring at the 20:01 mark. Kyle Nilsson took a long throw-in from the right side that Luke Madden got his head to. The ball hit a defender and dropped between several players, but Will Sawin got to the loose ball first, heading the ball into the net for the 1-0 edge.
• Just over two minutes later, Williams looked to threaten with a free kick on the edge of the 18-yard box, but a strong Panther wall denied any attempts by the Ephs.
• Middlebury struck again during the 23rd minute. Nilsson sent a beautiful through ball to Eujin Chae who sprinted past the defense. Chae blasted a shot from point-blank range that hit the leg of goalie Ben Diffley and ricocheted into the goal for the 2-0 lead. 
• Williams had a great opportunity to score at the 36:32 mark when Kellan Grace blasted a shot from just five-yards out, but Grady was there to smother the chance and keep the two-goal lead heading into the halftime break. 
• With 48:10 on the clock, the Panthers nearly scored again. Nilsson served a ball in from the right side, Randolph one-timed a short pass to Sawin, but Sawin's strike from the doorstep was thwarted by Diffley.
• Middlebury had a pair of quality chances to increase the advantage during the 76th minute. Sawin went one-on-one with an Eph defender on the left side and rifled a shot that sent Diffley diving to deny it. The rebound popped out to the feet of Colin Dugan, but his attempt pinged off the right pipe.
• The Panthers had a trio of opportunities with five minutes remaining, but a strong Williams' defense kept Middlebury at bay as the hosts secured the 2-0 triumph.

NOTES

• Chae's goal was his first of the season, marking the 15th different player to strike for the Panthers this year.
• Grady earned his 10th shut out of the fall, moving him into a three-way tie in the record books for fourth place. He also increased his program-leading career clean sheets tally to 39.
• The teams have met six times in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, with Middlebury leveling the series today.

 
Middlebury will take on fourth-seeded Tufts on Saturday in semifinal action, while the other matchup will feature second-seeded Amherst and third-seeded Connecticut College.