Courtesy Middlebury Athletic Communications

DANBURY, Conn. - For the second time in three years, the Middlebury women's soccer team has advanced to the NCAA sectionals. The Panthers earned the right after picking up a 3-2 win at W. Connecticut in an NCAA Regional Final on Sunday. Middlebury will take on The College of N.J. next weekend, while Amherst meets Endicot in the other sectional match-up. The site and game times will be announced on Monday. The 15th win on Sunday tied the school record.

Caitrin Abshere scored two second-half goals to lift Middlebury to the win. Her first tally gave the Panthers, 15-2-1, a 2-1 lead at the 70th minute. She was able to jar the ball loose from the W. Conn. defense on the left side of the crease and boot the ball over Colonials keeper Jenna Cappellieri.

The lead did not last long as W. Conn.'s Catherine Nathans knotted the score at 2-2 with her 22nd goal of the season at the 74:18 mark. She received a long pass from Nicole Sieber down the middle of the pitch.

Abshere and Middlebury retaliated just 22 seconds later after gathering another ball that deflected off the W. Conn. defense. It was her sixth goal of the season.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard first half when Kim Walker netted her fifth goal of the season off a direct kick from Erin Oliver in the 18th minute of play.