MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – In a resounding performance, the Wesleyan women's soccer team put together one of the program's premier performances in recent member as the Cardinals toppled No. 11 Middlebury, 2-0, from Dragone Field on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday's win marks the Wesleyan victory over the Panthers since 2012 and just the second Cardinal win in the annual series since 1995. Wesleyan has now defeated at least one nationally-ranked opponent three seasons running while the Cardinals are 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2017.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• It was a slow start for the Wesleyan offense as the first three shots in the game all came off the foot of a Panther, until the 23^rd minute when Melissa Wilhelm '22 fired a shot on-frame that caused a bit a trouble in the box for Middlebury as Elise Morris' foul inside the box drew a penalty kick for the Cardinals.
• Stepping to the circle was Katie O'Connell '25 who stepped into a right-footed blast that went inside the left post as the Middlebury keeper Sydney Poppinga dove nowhere near the shot as Wesleyan was suddenly leading 1-0 in the 24^th minute
• Just over five minutes later, a corner kick led to a second Cardinal goal as the ball in was deflected out to Wilhelm who took a shot that was deflected by Saige Rovero '24 past a helpless Poppinga in net as the Panther keeper had no chance to keep out Wesleyan's second first half goal
• Out of the break, the Panthers had a great chance to get on the board in the 58^th minute as Eliza Robinson sent a corner from the left side to Cate Wagner in the box but a Cardinal defender blocked Wagner's shot and kept the clean sheet intact
• With 14:02 remaining, Robinson rifled a shot from the top of the 18 but it hit the crossbar and bounced out of play
• Middlebury's final chance to break up the shutout came in the 86^th minute as Fannie Lodge headed a pass from Ellie Bavier at the top of the box but Sarah Hammond '22 was there to deny the chance and record the second Cardinal shutout to start the 2021 season

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• There were a few changes made to the starting lineup for the Cardinals' NESCAC opener as Audrey Lavey '23, O'Connell and Andrea Chiappetti '24 all drew the start for Wesleayn after coming off the bench in Wednesday's 7-0 season-opening win over Keene State
• For both O'Connell and Rovero, it was their first career goal while Wilhelm recorded her third career assist
• Middlebury recorded more shot attempts (13-11) but Wesleyan had more on-target (7-4) for the contest
• Through two games, Wesleyan has outscored their two opponents 9-0 and has seen eight different goal scorers

NEXT GAME:
Wesleyan looks to carry this momentum into the Little 3 Championship meet on Saturday, Sept. 18 with Williams playing host. The Cardinals have won the Little 3 title 20 times but the most-recent victory came back in 1984.