Poughkeepsie, NY – In a matchup of two nationally rank teams, the #23 Vassar College Women's Soccer team suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a tight 1-0 decision to #13 Middlebury Sunday afternoon. Sophomore
Laura Shea (Swarthmore, PA) finished the game with a pair of saves in goal.
Sunday's defeat drops Vassar to 5-1 overall on the season, while Middlebury improves to 4-0-1 through five contests.
How It Happened
- A scoreless first half featured 10 shots, with the visiting Panthers holding a 6-4 advantage in attempts.
- Vassar's two best chances of the half came off of consecutive corner kicks in the 36th minute.
- The first attempt saw Ava Holman (St. Louis, MO) miss just over the bar and on the ensuing corner, Middlebury's defense picked up a team save on another shot off the foot of Holman.
- Shea made a stop in the late stages of the first half, turning aside a shot from Kjersti Moritz in the 42nd minute.
- The two corners from the Brewers were the only two of the first half.
- Middlebury finally broke through just over 11 minutes into the second half with the only goal of the game.
- Mari Rode dropped a pass to Mia Feldman who sailed a shot high into the top left corner at 56:34 for what proved to be the game winning goal.
- Just before the Middlebury tally, Gianna Panarelli (Jensen Beach, FL) unleased a shot that went just above the bar.
- Vassar got off two shots after Middlebury scored, including an attempt from Caroline Sheehan (Springfield, IL) that went high in the final minute.
- Vassar finished the second half with a 4-3 advantage in shots.
- Shea made another save for the Brewers in the second frame.
For The Brewers
- With two saves in the contest, Shea now holds an .813 save percentage and a 0.58 goals against average in just over 463 minutes of action.
- Holman led the Brewers with three shots in the game, including one on goal.
- Sheehan and Panarelli each recorded two shots in the game for the Brewers.
For The Panthers
- Feldman scored for the second time in 2025 with both tallies serving as game winners.
- Rode picked up her first helper of the season on the Panthers' only goal.
- Gigi Day and Taya McClennen led the team with two shots apiece.
- Frankie Marston earned the win in goal for Middlebury with a single save.
Game Statistics
- Middlebury held a slim 9-8 advantage in shots in the game, including a 3-2 edge in shots on goal.
- Vassar took the only two corner kicks in the game.
- Fouls in the game were called 11-9 against the Panthers.
What's Next
- Vassar begins a three-game road trip on September 17 at Oneonta.
- Middlebury plays host to Union Wednesday afternoon.
