AMHERST, Mass. – The Panthers scored two unanswered goals in the second half as the sixth-seeded Middlebury women's soccer team defeated third-seed Amherst College, 3-2 in Saturday's NESCAC Quarterfinal game on Hitchcock Field.

Amherst (10-3-2)
Middlebury (7-4-5)

• Middlebury struck first, scoring the game's first goal in 10th minute of play. Alissa Huntington recorded her second goal of the season on the score from point blank range, while Adrianna Gildner tallied the assist. 
• Amherst evened the score eight minutes later, as Emily Hester '17 gained inside position and drew a foul in the box. Tabbed to take the kick, Ashlyn Heller '17 notched her third of the year on the play.
• The next 20 minutes of action were centered near the midfield as neither team able to gain momentum in the high intensity matchup.
• With time ticking down in the half, it was senior Rachael Abernethy who was able to break the deadlock and give Amherst the 2-1 lead with under eight minutes remaining. Reading the play, Abernethy positioned herself perfectly to one-touch a rebound into the netting after the goalkeeper turned away a shot by Hannah Guzzi '18.
• The Panthers would not be deterred however, as Katherine Hobbs made it a 2-2 contest just 3:36 into the second half. In an outstanding individual effort, Hobbs beat a defender and rifled a shot from just outside the top left corner of the box over the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper and into the top right corner of the net.
• Playing with rejuvenated energy, both teams earned several close offensive opportunities that they were unable to convert on over the next 30 minutes of action.
• Middlebury's Amanda Hotvedt nearly gave the Panthers the lead with 25:30 on the clock, but her shot from just left of the penalty hash was turned away by Holly Burwick '16 who dived to her right to make the save.
• First-year Maeve McNamara had a dangerous opportunity for the Purple & White with six minutes left in the game. Outpacing her defender in a footrace from midfield, McNamara sent a shot from the top of the box inches over the visitor's goal.
• It was Amanda Hotvedt who would come through for the Panthers, scoring her fourth goal of the year and the game winner with 22 seconds remaining in the game after a miscommunication left a wide open net.
• Middlebury held the advantage in shots, 14-9 and corner kicks, 3-2.
• Burwick '16 recorded six saves in the losing effort, while Meave McNamara '19 took a team high four shots in the matchup.
• Panther goalkeeper Kate Reinmuth registered four saves in the win. Jamie Soroka put three shots on frame in the outing.

• With the win, Middlebury advances to the semifinal round of the NESCAC Championship tournament and will take on first-seeded Williams College in Williamstown on Nov. 7.
• The Purple & White await an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.