Courtesy Middlebury Athletic Communications

Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury advanced to the NESCAC Men's Soccer Championship game for the sixth time as the Panthers earned their second 1-0 win over Williams in as many weeks. Middlebury will take on Amherst, a 1-0 winner over Trinity, in the NESCAC title game on Sunday at noon.

The Panthers had a good look in the early going as Tyler Macnee struck a ball from 30 yards out that sailed just wide of the post.

Middlebury broke through at 36:39 with the game’s only goal on a corner kick. Baer Fisher served the ball to earn his team-leading sixth assist of the season, as Brooks Farrar was able to get a head on the ball for his third tally of 2008.

The Ephs has a chance late in the first half on a scramble, but Allen Bourdon cleared the ball away from the goal for Middlebury.

Sam Empson just missed the goal in the 59th minute for the Ephs, as Fisher saw his shot from eight yards away saved by Andrew Graham just four minutes later.

The Panthers had two more great chances in the second half, the first by Stephen Hart in the 66th minute as he was denied by a diving Graham.

Farrar had a golden opportunity to net his second of the afternoon in the 77th minute, but missed an open net with Graham out of position.

Bush made one save in goal to earn his ninth shutout of the season, while Graham ended the day with five stops for Williams.