Middlebury Holds Off Men’s Soccer

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The rain came down hard with strong gusts of wind for most of the opening half, creating a slick surface with neither team able to get on the scoreboard.  

• With 11:40 expired, Middlebury's Kyle Nilsson one timed a feed from Tyler Payne that looked like it went in the net, but Rams' goalkeeper Joseph Sturzo got a hand on the ball just before it crossed the goal line.  

• At the 19:01 mark, Panther Alem Hadzic forced Sturzo off his line as the two challenged for the ball, but Hadzic's shot from close range was thwarted. 

• With just under two minutes to go in the half, Framingham State was awarded a free kick just outside the 18. Bryce Nardizzi blasted the ball on goal, but Panther goalie Ryan Grady punched the ball up and over the crossbar to deny the chance and keep the match scoreless heading into the break. 

• Middlebury opened the scoring at the 47:51 mark. An initial shot by Shane Farrell was saved by goalie James Hartshorn, but Eujin Chae was on the end line to one time the rebound back into play. Gavin Randolph volleyed the feed from Chae right into the net for the 1-0 edge. 

• Framingham State responded during the 51st minute. Nardizzi intercepted a clearing attempt and sent a through ball to Gustav Hemmingsen, who slipped the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1. 

• Middlebury took a 2-1 advantage at the 73:07 mark when Casey Lund headed a cross from Randolph into the goal.  

• The Panthers made it 3-1 during the 79th minute. Michael McFarlane sent a cross from the right side into the box. Sandwiched between a pair of defenders, Payne just got his head on the ball, directing it into the bottom right corner. 

• Middlebury closed out the scoring with 40 seconds remaining in the contest when Chae bent his corner kick from the left flag into the upper right 90 for the 4-1 victory. 

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