Junior goalkeeper Frankie Marston stonewalled four Union shots to help the #9 Middlebury women's soccer team close out a scoreless draw on Tuesday evening in Schenectady, New York.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The hosts nearly charged ahead with 12:51 elapsed. Kayla Coviello collected possession and fired, but her chance caromed off the crossbar.
- Middlebury stepped up the pressure about six minutes later. Chloe Swindle and Mariana Rode had consecutive doorstep bids denied by Union goalie Maya Koster. The ball trickled out to Rode for one more opportunity that ricocheted off a Garnet Charger and out of harm's way.
- At the 31:31 mark, Ashley Sheldon tried to guide a sliding shot into the left side of the net. Marston slid over and scooped up the ball for the stop.
- The hosts had the final opportunity of the first half with 9:35 remaining. Taylor Bovardi wound up and fired a shot toward the right post that Marston denied.
- Rode continued to create chances for the Panther offense early in the second frame. With 54:32 elapsed, the defender sliced through the Union defense and tried her luck from just beyond the 18-yard box. Koster stayed on her line and tracked the ball for the save.
- The Garnet Chargers had a golden opportunity about 12 minutes later on a free kick just outside the goalie box. Addison MacDonald smashed a curling bid over the Panther wall and to the center of the goal. Marston got a hand on it, but the ball slid to open space. Sheldon won the race between two Middlebury defenders and tried to tap it in, but the Panther goalie dove to her right and tipped the ball aside with her glove.
- In the 75th minute, Suzanna Fee fired a chance from the edge of the box that was blocked toward the middle. Swindle collected possession and lifted the ball just over the crossbar on the rebound opportunity.
- Hannah Sams ripped a free kick for the hosts with 9:11 remaining that bent narrowly over the goal.
- Taya McClennen (85:56) and Rode (88:44) had the final chances of the contest, but their bids missed left and right, respectively, to seal the draw.
NOTES
- Marston stopped four shots to earn her third shutout as a Panther.
- Middlebury held a 15-10 edge in shots and a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks.
- Tuesday's contest marked the first tie in a series in which the navy and white hold an 11-2-1 advantage.
The Panthers kick off a weekend homestand on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. against Connecticut College.
