The Middlebury women's soccer team extended its shutout streak to five consecutive matches with a crucial 1-0 victory over Bates on Saturday in Lewiston, Maine.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Panthers nearly struck just 58 seconds into the contest. Chloe Swindle cut to the top of the goal box and lifted a rising chance toward the left side of the net. Bobcat goalie Sydney Litney plucked the ball out of the air for the save.
- With 8:54 elapsed, Gwyn Jamison readied and blasted a riser from distance. The shot caromed off the top of the crossbar.
- Middlebury's defense was tested again with 21:21 elapsed. Keelan Mader struck a free kick that sailed into the box and near the right post. The shot bounced off two defenders before Kacy Walker cleared the ball off the line.
- The Panthers nearly went ahead in the 42nd minute. Fiona Linnau lifted a corner that clanged off the right post and to a waiting Lucy King, but her point-blank attempt was blocked by a Bates defender.
- Bates had the final opportunity of the first half with 18 ticks remaining. Nicole Tandetnitskiy struck a sizzling shot down the center that Aubrey Silvestri pulled into her midsection to keep the contest scoreless.
- Walker readied and fired a sailing bid just 2:33 into the second half. The shot struck the top-right corner of the crossbar and caromed away.
- The Panthers pushed the envelope with 54:16 elapsed. Swindle carried the ball into the goalie box and flipped a pass to a cutting Niamh O'Brien, who lifted a right-footed shot that Litney plucked out of the air.
- Middlebury broke through in the 69th minute on a free kick. After a fake by Olivia Colby and Linnau, Gigi Day stepped up and struck a rising shot with her left foot that flew through the top-right portion of the goal to give the navy and white a 1-0 advantage.
- The Bobcats ramped up the pressure roughly two minutes later. Aurora Rella-Neill hustled near the top of the box and struck a shot that skimmed along the turf. Silvestri slid to her right and covered the chance.
- Sarah Hall nearly doubled the Panther lead with 5:16 remaining. The forward flicked the ball ahead and tried a cross-goal shot. Litney dove at the right moment and punched the shot away.
- Bates put together one last chance with 16 seconds left. Mader bent a free kick toward the left post, but Silvestri came off her line and scooped up the ball to secure the 1-0 win.
NOTES
- Day tallied her 15th goal as a Panther.
- Silvestri stopped a career-high 10 shots for her fourth shutout of the campaign.
- Middlebury pushed their winning streak over Bates to 10 consecutive matches.
The Panthers close the regular season against #8 Williams on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. from the Allan Dragone Track and Field Complex.
