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ThirdGoalCelebration23CortlandNCAA
Brian Foley
Gavin Randolph and Eujin Chae celebrate following Randolph's game-winning goal.
4
Winner Middlebury MIDMS (15-1-4)
2
Cortland CORTLAND (16-3-3)
Winner
Middlebury MIDMS
(15-1-4)
4
Final
2
Cortland CORTLAND
(16-3-3)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Middlebury MIDMS 2 2 4
Cortland CORTLAND 2 0 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

#3 Men’s Soccer Stuns #6 SUNY Cortland With 4-2 Comeback Win

The third-ranked Middlebury men's soccer team trailed 2-0 after 32 minutes of play, but scored four unanswered goals to earn an incredible 4-2 comeback victory over sixth-ranked SUNY Cortland. With the win, the squad advances to the elite eight and takes on NESCAC foe Amherst on Sunday with a trip to the final four on the line. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS
  • The Panthers' first good chance came after 9:34 of action. Jordan Saint-Louis slipped around a defender inside the box and fired a low cross which reached Gavin Randolph, but Randolph's  one-time effort from close-range rippled the outside of the net.
  • Middlebury looked to take the lead with 25:25 showing on the clock. Will Sawin clipped a cross to the back post which Kyle Nilsson headed on target but his bid was saved by Jordan Ott.
  • The Red Dragons nearly jumped in front with less than 20 minutes to go until halftime. A loose ball fell to Jack Coleman following a cross, but his close-range shot was smothered by goalie Ryan Grady. 
  • Cortland grabbed the lead seconds later. Cade Denlinger collected a loose ball at the top of the box and blasted a sensational right-footed volley into the right corner for the 1-0 edge. 
  • The Red Dragons continued to apply pressure and found a second goal at the 32:13 mark. Denlinger was back on the scoresheet as he whipped in a free kick from the right side of the attack area that went all the way through untouched, nestling in the far corner to bring the score to 2-0.
  • Middlebury got one goal back with less than 10 minutes to go before halftime. Harper Nicholl had a shot blocked from the top of the box, and the rebound fell to Kyle Nilsson who ripped a left-footed strike into the top-left corner to halve the deficit (2-1). 
  • Grady was called into action just after the 40th minute. Following a corner kick, Denlinger and Coleman each had opportunities in quick succession, but the Panther goalie stood strong to thwart both attempts and keep it a one-score game. 
  • The Panthers leveled the score at 2-2 with less than a minute to go in the stanza. Saint-Louis shot a free kick toward goal. Ott made the initial save, but the rebound squirted out to Nilsson who one-timed it into the net from six yards away to even the score at the intermission.
  • Middlebury began the second half on the attack as Nicholl nearly gave them the lead inside 10 seconds with a left-foot shot that rattled the left post. 
  • With just over 20 minutes left in the contest, the Panthers surged in front. Eujin Chae served a cross into the box from the right side which Randolph headed into the upper right corner, to give Middlebury the 3-2 edge. 
  • Cortland threatened to score an equalizer throughout the final ten minutes, but the Panther defense stood strong, fending off multiple shots and crosses to maintain the one goal edge. 
  • Middlebury clinched the game with one second left on the clock. Colin Duggan intercepted a pass near midfield and flicked the ball to Saint-Louis who broke away downfield. The forward drew the goalie out of the box on the left side before slipping a pass to a wide-open Will Sawin on the right, who buried the ball into the empty net for the 4-2 comeback victory.
NOTES
  • Nilsson scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season, giving him 18 points on the year.
  • Randolph's goal was his fourth game-winner of the fall.  
  • Saint-Louis tallied two assist in the victory and sits third in the Middlebury record books with 21 during his career.
  • The programs met for the first time in men's soccer history.
  • The 15 victories ties for third-most in program history, last achieved in 2008.
PRESS CONFERENCE


The Panthers move on to the NCAA Quarterfinal and face #13 Amherst on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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