The Middlebury Women’s Soccer team wrapped up an eventful weekend against two strong opponents, the Amherst Mammoths on Saturday and the Hamilton Continentals on Sunday. A robust win against the Mammoths allowed the team to carry momentum into their following match, ultimately walking away with a hard earned tie against another powerful NESCAC rival.
Middlebury’s season started two weeks ago, where they fell 1–4 to Wesleyan. While they boasted a decisive league win against Connecticut College in the following match, the Panthers later tied both Union College and Vassar. Indeed, they were eager for a breakthrough.
Going into Saturday’s game, recent NESCAC player of the week and starting goalkeeper, Frankie Marston ’27.5, shared with The Campus that the squad was prepared for a contest. “Amherst is a consistently challenging team with a strong attacking shape,” Marston said.
The first 45 minutes of play against the Mammoths on Saturday certainly exhibited a relentless fight from both teams, each putting up strong campaigns hoping to take home a win. With several shots on goal in the first half from Middlebury, the Panthers eventually capitalized in the 30th minute. Fiona Linnau ’28 gave Middlebury the advantage off a penalty kick, her second goal this season.
Middlebury's lead nearly doubled at the onset of the second half, but Chloe Swindle’s ’26 bid was denied by Amherst’s goalkeeper.
Marston played a firmly strong match, shutting out every one of Amherst’s attempts on goal. The defensive line — who have only allowed one goal since their loss to Wesleyan — has proved impenetrable. Marston told The Campus that they have been very “solid and connected to each other.”
The second half featured no goals from either side, marking Marston’s third shutout this season with six saves. Marston described this victory as “electric,” and it certainly was given that Middlebury would be celebrating their first victory over the Mammoths since 2021.
With their heads held high and a win under their belts, the Panthers prepared for another exciting match. Likewise, the Hamilton team headed into Sunday’s match with a win from the previous day;on paper, it would be a gritty and high-paced matchup — and it delivered.
In the first 45 minutes, Middlebury recorded 12 shots against Hamilton’s five. Despite the Panthers’ offensive strength, Hamilton opened up the scoring 18 minutes into the game off a corner kick. With the Panthers eager to get even with their competitors and the Continentals trying to hold onto their lead, the second half was a hard fought battle between both teams. Ultimately with just 17 minutes remaining, Gigi Day ’27 stepped up to the plate and tied up the game 1-1. This was Day’s first goal this season and 14th of her career.
Just two minutes later, Taya McClennen ’28 almost secured a lead but was denied by the crossbar Mariana Rode ’29 secured the last opportunity to score off a corner kick with only three minutes left on the clock, but her attempt was also unsuccessful.
While the Panthers were unable to walk away with a win, they proved dominant and powerful, building momentum heading into their next gameday.
The Panthers travel to Brunswick, Maine where they will compete against the Bowdoin Polar Bears on Saturday, Sept. 26th. An exciting match is in store, given that Bowdoin also triumphed over Amherst and lost to Wesleyan by four. Middlebury will be watching what the Panthers will pull off next weekend.
