MIDDLEBURY — After a 1-0 loss to Williams on Tuesday the Middlebury College women’s soccer team (13-1-1, 8-1-1 NESCAC) finished second in the NESCAC regular season and will host seventh-place Bowdoin in a NESCAC quarterfinal on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
The Panthers defeated Bowdoin (7-6-2, 3-6-1 NESCAC), 3-1, this season. Barring an upset of first place Williams (13-0-2, 9-0-1) this Saturday, if the Panthers defeated Bowdoin again they will travel to Williams for the NESCAC final four on Nov. 3 and 4.
Tuesday’s game at Williams featured two of the top five teams in NCAA Division III, the No. 3 Ephs, the defending NCAA champs, and No. 5 Panthers, who dealt the Ephs their only loss a year ago.
Middlebury had a good look in the first minute, but Williams’ goaltender Olivia Barnhill denied an Eliza Van Voorhis header. In the 15th minute Eph Aspen Pierson hit the left post.
Williams scored at 54:08 mark, when Pierson curled home a 25-yard free kick from the right side.
Middlebury’s best chance to tie came in the 78th minute, when Virginia Charman sent Ellie Greenberg, but Barnhill came off her line to deny Greenberg.
Middlebury outshot Williams, 9-4. Goalie Eva Shaw made one save for the Panthers, while Barnhill made five stops for the Ephs.
On this past Saturday the Panthers topped visiting Bates (5-10, 0-10 NESCAC), 3-1. Bates scored 67 seconds in, when Caroline Bogue redirected Olivia Amdur’s corner kick.
Sabrina Glaser pulled Middlebury even with 5:15 left in the half. Eliza Robinson lofted a long free kick that Bobcat keeper Katherine Nuckols (eight saves) punched away, but Glaser netted the rebound.
Van Voorhis made it 2-1 1:57 into the second half. Glaser passed from the right side of box to Van Voorhis, who volleyed a shot to the lower left corner.
Middlebury made it 3-1 with 1:37 to go on freshman Magnolia Moskun’s first collegiate goal. She tucked a shot into the right side with an assist from Clare Robinson.
Shaw made two saves. Middlebury possessed advantages of 22-7 in shots and 6-2 in corner kicks.