The #5 Middlebury men's soccer team netted a pair of first-half goals and never looked back in a 5-1 victory over Keene State on Wednesday evening at South Street Field.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers pushed the envelope early in the opening stanza. Colin Dugan ripped off consecutive shots that were blocked by the Owl defense. Kyle Nilsson and Will Sawin followed with back-to-back attempts a couple minutes later, but Keene State goalkeeper Regan Racicot made two clutch saves to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
• Middlebury continued to apply pressure, breaking through during the 29th minute. Gavin Randolph took a feed from Malik Samms and sliced the ball into the bottom left corner to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
• Middlebury tallied its second goal off a strong throw-in by Ari Klayman that was tipped toward the right corner of the goalie box by a Keene defender. With no one around, Keagan Harder fired the ball down the middle for his first tally in a Panther uniform to make it 2-0 at the half.
• The Owls started to find some rhythm to open the second half as they worked down into the Middlebury defensive end. The visitors found the back of the net during the 52nd minute, as a free kick bounced off a Panther defender toward Caleb Harmon. The Keene State forward settled the ball and put it in the net to cut the deficit in half.
• A cluster of players after a Panther throw-in paid dividends for the home team, as a header by Luke Madden was deflected toward Harder, who tapped it into the bottom left corner to give Middlebury a 3-1 lead. 
• The home team tacked on two more goals late in the second stanza. A deflected pass fell to the foot of Samms, who launched a screamer into the middle of the net for his first career goal.
• Middlebury finished off the scoring two minutes later off a connection between Hugo Horwitz and Will Sawin to make it 5-1.

NOTES

• Harder scored his first pair of markers in a Middlebury uniform.
• Samms and Sawin each tallied their first goals of the season.
• Middlebury's defense held Keene State to just one shot on goal.
• The programs played for the 10th time with Middlebury holding a 7-3 edge.
• The Panthers are unbeaten in the last five contests (5-0-0) against Keene State and have outscored the Owls 14-2 during that span. 

Middlebury closes its opening week slate with a 12:00 p.m. home contest on Saturday against Hamilton. It will also be the NESCAC opener for both programs.