The Middlebury women’s soccer team fought to a hard-earned 0-0 draw against Amherst this past Saturday, Sept. 20, shutting down one of the NESCAC’s most potent attacks. Amherst peppered the goal, but the Panthers’ back line, anchored by a standout performance from senior goalkeeper and captain, Livia Davidson ’26, held firm, making an impressive defensive statement.
Throughout the game, Davidson scooped up corners and shut down Mammoth breakaways with the composure of a seasoned player. Yet for her, the battle was as much a mental as it was physical.
“I was constantly forcing every other thought out of my head, I heard myself saying out loud, ‘lock in, lock in,’” Davidson said.
That laser focus paid off, and her teammates commended her tenacity in their post-game reflections.
“Liv killed it,” midfielder Olivia Irwin-Pokorny ’26.5 said. “She’s had a long battle with injury, and then stepped up this year as a captain. Seeing her really step up when we needed her was remarkable.”
Wingback Mari Rode ’29 agreed. “There were a few times where I was like, ‘she’s going to score,’ and then somehow Liv — she just had very sticky hands every time the ball came to her.”
It wasn’t just Davidson, though. The Panthers’ entire defense knocked Amherst out of rhythm and into a frustrating grind that lasted the entire game. Rode, whose agility and anticipation stood out in high-pressure moments, described her defensive mindset.
“All I was thinking was, I need to get back, I need to get goalside before they cross in,” she said.
Defender Wynne Braemer ’29 was on the same page. “Our main key in the back was just trying to keep a really strong wall, and I think we succeeded.”
Yet what made the afternoon special wasn’t just the on-field resilience, but the culture that fueled it. From the relentless “benergies” (bench-energies) to the behind-the-scenes pregame chaos, the team’s chemistry was on full display.
“We get so hype in the locker room,” first-year keeper Aubrey Silvestri ’29 said. “Like so, so hype. We just scream songs.”
Defender Ainsley Chu ’29 echoed this spirit: “Soccer is about little moments, and I think our energy on and off the field pushes people further.”
This energy also allowed for a cohesive on-field presence for the Panthers. “I never felt like it was one person on that field. Everyone had each other’s backs,” Braemer said. “The fans felt it, too. Alumni, parents, and friends filled the sidelines, creating a noisy, supportive atmosphere that blurred the line between past and present.”
For Irwin-Pokorny, team spirit also involves recognizing the grind behind the scenes.
“Everyone’s working so hard over the summer, in practice, through injuries, balancing school. It’s immense. People spend a lot of time being really stressed because it is just added pressure. But everyone is working really really hard,” she said.
The game ended scoreless, but hardly empty. For the Panthers, it was a benchmark — proof they can hold their own against Amherst while revealing what still needs sharpening.
“We have the technique, it’s just about focus,” Davidson concluded.
If Saturday was any indication, this team has plenty of both.
