The third-ranked Middlebury men's soccer team scored three goals in a span of 10:55 during Tuesday's first half on its way to a 6-0 victory over Bridgewater State in the program's season opener.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Panthers had a pair of quality scoring chances in the opening minutes of the initial half, including a right-footed blast from Eduardo Casanova that sailed wide left with 18:09 expired.
- Middlebury broke into the scoring column 1:49 later when Casanova and Keagan Harder connected on a nifty give-and-go in the box for a 1-0 lead.
- Will Sawin increased the hosts' edge with 25:12 elapsed, ripping an attempt past Bridgewater State goalie Kyle Sullivan into the lower-left corner.
- The Panthers pushed the advantage to 3-0 just under five minutes later when Casanova bodied a bid past Sullivan.
- The Bears produced their best opportunity with 4:15 remaining in the stanza when Nicholas Ribiero sent a curling shot that scooted wide of the left post.
- Bridgewater State looked to cut into the deficit in the 12th minute following the break, but Middlebury goalie Joey Waterman came off his line to save a rising bid from Ribiero.
- The hosts continued to apply pressure over the ensuing minutes, pushing their lead to 4-0 at the 62:30 mark. Sawin cashed in his second tally of the contest, converting into the bottom-right portion of the net.
- Ribiero sent a bending bid from just outside the box three minutes later, but the attempt bounced off the left post and caromed away harmlessly to keep it a four-goal contest.
- The duo of Harder and Casanova connected again with 24:17 left, as Casanova sent a through ball to a charging Harder, who found the back of the goal for a 5-0 lead
- The Bears produced a solid bid seven minutes later, but goalie Leon Brody moved to his right to deny the shot by Thomas Neves.
- Hugo Horwitz concluded the scoring with 10:40 showing on the second-half clock via a nifty feed from Anderson Gardner for the final 6-0 result.
NOTES
- Casanova collected a career-high six points with two goals and a pair of assists in the triumph.
- Sawin earned a career-best five points on two goals and a helper. The two tallies were also a career high.
- The assist by Dylan Payne on the Panthers' second tally was his first point in a blue and white uniform.
- The programs played for the second time with Middlebury earning a 2-0 victory last fall in Massachusetts.
- The Panthers improve to 9-0-2 in their last 11 season openers.
Middlebury returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Hamilton for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against the Continentals.