Middlebury College

The Middlebury women's soccer team overcame the elements to secure a 3-0 triumph over the University of Southern Maine on a chilly and rainy Tuesday evening at the Allan Dragone Track & Field Complex.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers nearly opened the scoring with 17:57 elapsed. Taya McClennen sent a through ball to a darting Mia Feldman. The forward tried to push it past goalie Kaylee Vasiloff, but she stonewalled and smothered the point-blank chance.
• Alexandra Lieberman drove into the box for a bid in the 25th minute and targeted her shot toward the right post. Vasiloff dove and pulled the ball in for the stop.
• Lexi Morin tried to put the Huskies in front 2:01 later, but her strike from 25 yards out was plucked out of the air by Middlebury goalie Aubrey Silvestri.
• The hosts took the lead with 14:32 left in the first half. Laila Foose sent in a corner kick that flicked off Gigi Day's right foot and caromed toward the left post. Kacy Walker won the race to the ball and pushed it over the line for a 1-0 advantage.
• In the 38th minute, Mia Wetzel sent a corner kick near the center of the box. Morin nearly won the race for a header, but Silvestri came off her line and punched the ball out of harm's way.
• The Panthers doubled their advantage with 50:15 expired. Feldman collected the ball and tapped a pass to a crashing McClennen. The junior did the rest, lifting a shot that snuck underneath the middle of the crossbar.
• Sarah Hall joined the scoring sheet in the 63rd minute. After shaking a Husky defender, the forward cut to her right and laced a chance into the upper right portion of the goal.
• Middlebury continued their pressure at the 74:15 mark. Suzanna Fee stepped up and blasted a rising free kick that nearly found nylon. Vasiloff climbed the ladder and flicked the sizzler over the bar for the stop.
• Southern Maine nearly got on the board with 6:34 remaining. Lizzy Neal settled a ball in the box and sent a rising bid to the left side of the net. Silvestri tracked the opportunity through the rain and smothered it to seal the shutout.

NOTES

• McClennen tallied her team-leading fourth goal of the campaign.
• Foose recorded her first helper as a Panther and became the 14th player to record a point.
• Walker became the 11th different athlete to find the back of the net in the navy and white.
• The teams met for the second time.

Middlebury jumps back into conference action on Saturday against Trinity at 11:00 a.m.