Panthers Tally Three First-Half Goals in Win Over St. Lawrence

Emma Shumway scored her fourth goal of the season in Tuesday's victory over St. Lawrence.

Middlebury posted its fourth-consecutive shutout victory Tuesday afternoon, scoring three first-half goals on its way to a 3-0 triumph over St. Lawrence on Dragone Field. The victory puts Middlebury at 8-2 for the season, while the Saints fall to 6-3-2. The Panthers return to NESCAC play on Saturday when they host Tufts at 2:00 p.m., while St. Lawrence entertains Skidmore on the same day at 3:00 p.m.

Controlling much of the play in the opening minutes, Middlebury got on the board at the 10:01 mark when Amy Martin dribbled down the right side, and crossed the ball to the far post where Adrianna Gildner tapped it in for her fourth goal of the fall.

A little more than three minutes later, the Panthers doubled their lead when Emma Shumway blasted a shot from 20 yards out which hit the crossbar and went straight down and just over the goal line. The tally was Shumway's fourth of the season.

In the 29th minute, St. Lawrence nearly cut the deficit in half when Emily Sullivan volleyed a cross out of the air as a part of a corner kick, but Middlebury goalkeeper Ursula Alwang made a diving save to her right, punching the ball out of harm's way.

Nearing the halftime break, the Panthers increased their lead to 3-0 when Amanda Dafonte tapped in a cross from the left by Ellie Greenberg at 43:35. Dafonte's score was her second in as many matches for the Panthers.

In the second half, the Panthers had a scoring opportunity in the 67th minute when Gildner one-touched a cross just six yards away, but St. Lawrence goalkeeper Samantha Allen made a diving save to her right.
Building momentum, the Saints best scoring chance of the final half happened in the 75th minute. Lindsay Geier collected a loose ball in the center of the pitch, dribbled just inside the penalty area and blasted a ball that went just wide right of the far post.

Middlebury held the advantage in shots (19-10), including a 13-6 edge in the opening half, as well as a 6-4 margin in corner kicks. Allen recorded eight saves for the Saints, while Alwang registered four stops in the opening half and Kate Reinmuth had one save in the final stanza for Middlebury.