The seventh-ranked Middlebury men's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to double-digits (7-0-3), edging Colby 1-0 during a rainy contest on Saturday. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• With just under six minutes elapsed, the Mules looked to get on the board, but Aidan O'Brien's header attempt sailed just above the crossbar.
• Middlebury had a great chance to score during the 20th minute. Jordan Saint-Louis rifled a free kick on goal from just outside the 18-yard box, but Colby goalie Brendan McCarthy dove to his right and just tipped the ball wide of the left pipe.
• The Panthers broke through with less than a minute to go in the opening half. Saint-Louis sent a ball from midfield to Kyle Nilsson on the right. Nilsson raced down the sideline and sent a cross from the end line that Colin Dugan ran onto and one-timed into the upper-left corner for the 1-0 edge.
• With 58:01 elapsed, the Mules looked for the equalizer, but Jacob Sams' bid from outside the box sailed just above the upper-right corner.
• Less than a minute later, Colby looked to knot the contest. Jayde Franklin chipped the ball to Eduardo Casanova whose half-bicycle kick from point blank was thwarted by Middlebury goalie Ryan Grady.
• During the 61st minute, Will Sawin looked to double the Panther lead, dribbling into the box and slotting a shot that scampered across the goal mouth and out the other side.
• At the 68:14 mark, Saint-Louis nearly scored when he ripped a left-footed shot from the right side of the field. McCarthy dove toward the upper-right corner of the goal and just got a finger on the ball to deny the bid and keep Middlebury's damage to 1-0.

NOTES

• The Panthers are off to their best start in over two decades, dating back to the 1999 season when the program began the season with a 10-0-2 mark.
• The match marked the annual Michael P. Russell Memorial Cup contest. This cup was established in memory of Michael Russell, who graduated from Middlebury in 1998. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 36, leaving behind a wife and two daughters. Michael had siblings attend both Middlebury (Steve) and Colby (Chris), thus setting up the annual contest between the schools.
• Today's game was the 42nd meeting between the programs, with the Panthers improving to 23-11-8.
• Middlebury is one of 13 teams that currently remain unbeaten in Division III play.

 
The Panthers travel to Eastern Nazarene on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup with the starting time to be determined.