The Middlebury women's soccer team scored once in the first half, and hung on to edge Bates 1-0 for its first NESCAC win of the year.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Just over five minutes into the game, the Panthers had a great opportunity to get on the board. Roshann Purcell took a free kick from just over the midfield line and sent the ball into the box, but Ella Gagnon's header hit the upper left corner of the goal frame and ricocheted out of bounds.
• Middlebury continued its offense pressure, breaking through during the 38th minute. Olivia O'Reilly sent a beautiful through ball to Gigi Day who beat her defender and fired a hard shot toward the goal. A diving goaltender Ruby Reinmann got a piece of the ball, but the hard shot trickled into the bottom right corner for a 1-0 edge.
• The best chance for Bates came with just under two minutes remaining in the half. The ball ping-ponged around the box after a corner kick, before Olivia Becker rifled a shot on frame. Goalie Carolyn Kelley was up to the task, soaring through the air and punching the ball up and over the crossbar to preserve the 1-0 edge heading into the break.
• Day had a pair of quality opportunities to double the Panther lead in the second stanza. The first came with 83:30 on the clock, after a free kick from Purcell on the left side, but Day's header attempt sailed just over the top right corner. With under three minutes remaining, Day had a free kick at the top of the 18-yard box that looked destined to tuck under the crossbar, but Reinmann punched the ball up and over the goal to keep the Middlebury victory at 1-0.

NOTES

• Kelley made four stops during the first half to earn the win, while Livia Davidson had two stops over the final 45 minutes.
• The tally was Day's first game-winner as a Panther.
• The teams met for the 44th time, with Middlebury recording its fourth-straight shutout over the Bobcats.

 
The Panthers are idle until Saturday when they host Wesleyan at 11:00 a.m.