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GoalCelebration23WilliamsNESCACQtr
Anna Sawin

#3 Men’s Soccer To Host NESCAC Championship Weekend

The Panthers celebrate following a goal in the NESCAC Quarterfinal victory over Williams.
The #3/top-seeded Middlebury men's soccer team has earned the right to host the semifinal and final rounds of the 2023 NESCAC Tournament. The Panthers face off with fourth-seeded Tufts on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., while #16/second-seed Amherst battles #7/third-seed Connecticut College on the other side of the bracket at 1:30 p.m.
 
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY
  • Middlebury advanced to the conference semifinal by downing Williams 2-0 at South Street Field, with Gavin Randolph and Eujin Chae each finding the back of the net.
  • The Panthers continue their charge for the program's fourth NESCAC title and first since 2010. The hosts have not had the top seed of the tournament since the 2008 season.
  • Middlebury is making its 23rd appearance in the conference tournament and has claimed the second-most victories (26) in the history of the event. The Panthers have reached the championship game on 10 occasions, tied for the most finals appearances in the league. 
  • This is Middlebury's 20th appearance in the semifinal round, which is the most among conference peers.
  • The Panthers are one of four unbeaten teams left in all of Division III, including the Camels.
PANTHERS TO WATCH
  • Jordan Saint-Louis carries his strong form into the semifinal round. The forward paces the NESCAC with eight assists and four game-winning goals, and is second in the league with 24 points and eight markers. 
  • Randolph's 21st minute goal against Williams was his seventh of the season and third game-winner. The junior has been on fire during the last three games, scoring twice and adding an assist, while ranking fourth in the conference in points (18).
  • Kyle Nilsson has had a role in nine of Middlebury's goals this campaign, scoring two and setting up seven. Nilsson has also seen the second-most minutes of any field player (1,328) while starting all 16 contests. Tyler Payne has also provided a scoring threat from midfield, finding the back of the net five times, most recently scoring in the 3-0 victory over Tufts. 
  • Defensively, Luke Madden has been a stalwart for the Panthers, registering 1,321 minutes this season and is a part of a backline that has allowed just eight goals this season. Madden has also been a threat in attack, recording eight points on three goals and two assists. He is accompanied by Hank Nelson and William O'Brien who have played 1,347 and 1,245 minutes, respectively, while starting each match that they have featured in. 
  • Goalkeeper Ryan Grady recorded his 10th clean sheet of the season in the quarterfinal victory. Grady holds the Middlebury record for most career shutouts with 39 and boasts a .507 goals against average (GAA) and .871 save percentage which are both NESCAC-bests.
ABOUT TUFTS
  • Tufts secured its spot in the semifinals by defeating fifth-seeded Bowdoin 2-1, with goals coming on either side of halftime. 
  • The Jumbos have advanced to the final three times in the last five years, and have claimed the NESCAC title every time they have reached the championship game, most recently in 2021.
  • Tufts has had a strong attack this year, with 16 players netting at least one goal and 10 of those scoring multiple times. 
  • Defensively, the Jumbos have conceded just 13 times on the season and have allowed more than one goal only three times throughout the year. 
JUMBOS TO WATCH
  • Ethan Fiegin paces Tufts with 13 points this season. The midfielder has tallied five assists and is tied for the team-lead in goals with four. 
  • Sean Traynor (12) and Mikey Brady (10) have also contributed double-digit points this campaign. Both players have found the back of the net four times, while Traynor has registered four helpers.   
  • Max Clivio and Mateo Bargagna headline the defensive unit. The pair have played the most minutes of any Jumbo field players this year with 1,328 and 1,050, respectively, and have appeared in every game. Clivio has also scored two goals, while Bargagna has recorded one tally and four helpers.   
  • In goal, Nikola Antic has made the second-most saves in the NESCAC this season (57) and sits second in the league with a .814 save percentage. The goalkeeper has kept six shutouts and two combined shutouts on the year. 
SERIES HISTORY
  • The programs will meet for the 39th time with the Panthers holding a 35-29-10 edge in the all-time series.
  • Earlier this season, Middlebury downed Tufts 3-0 on South Street Field 
  • The teams have faced off eight times in the NESCAC Tournament with the Panthers owning a slight 5-3-0 lead. 
ABOUT AMHERST
  • In quarterfinal action, Amherst defeated Wesleyan 1-0 to reach the semifinal round. 
  • If Middlebury were to advance to the final and face the Mammoths, the meeting would be the 61st matchup with the Panthers owning a 26-21-13 advantage. The teams played to a 1-1 draw on September 9.
  • The programs have played 11 times in the NESCAC Tournament with Amherst holding a narrow 6-5-0 edge.
  • The Mammoths are the defending NESCAC Champions, defeating Connecticut College 2-1 in overtime in last season's championship game.
  • Ada Okorogheye (6G, 4A) and Mohammed Nuhu (6G, 3A) pace Amherst in points, contributing 16 and 15 each. Defensively, Simon Kalinauskas has played the most minutes of any player, registering 1,221, while also tallying three goals and two assists.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT COLLEGE
  • Connecticut College slipped past Hamilton 3-1 in overtime to claim its spot in the semifinals.
  • If the Panthers and the Camels face off, the meeting will be the 41st matchup with the Panthers owning a 28-8-4 advantage. The teams played to a 1-1 draw on October 15.
  • The programs have squared off three times in the NESCAC Tournament with Middlebury holding a 2-0-1 record. The teams have only ever met in the quarterfinal round.
  • Jake Creus and Matt Scoffone have each scored seven goals this season and lead the team in points with 17 and 15, respectively. Elliot Spatz propelled Connecticut College into the semifinal round, firing in two overtime goals and adding an assist in the quarterfinal victory.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
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