HARTFORD, Conn. - The Trinity College Bantams dropped a 1-0 decision against the visiting Middlebury College Panthers in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) women's soccer action this afternoon on Trinity Soccer Field. Trinity falls to 7-6-1 overall and 3-5-1 in the NESCAC, while the Panthers improve to 10-3-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the conference.  The Bantams close the regular season on NESCAC rival Amherst on Tuesday at 6 p.m.  Middlebury finishes on Tuesday at Williams at 3 p.m.

The Bantams recovered from a difficult first half that saw them manage just two shots and trail, 1-0, thanks to the lone goal of the game by Middlebury's Ellie Bavier in the 36th minute.  Bavier curled in a corner kick from the left that slipped through the hands and over the head of Bantam sophomore goalkeeper Mariana Cournoyer (St. Paul, Minn.).  The Trinity offense was more aggressive after halftime, outshooting the Panthers, 9-7, and forcing Middlebury goalie Sydney Poppingsa to make six of her eight saves in the contest.  

Trinity nearly tied the game in the second half on a couple occasions, including in the 56th minute when senior forward Whitney Hoban (Winnetka, Ill.) got past her defender inside the box on the left and shot low but just wide of the goal.  Senior Jennifer Stuart (Newburyport, Mass.) relieved Cournoyer at halftime and the pair had five saves apiece.  Trinity senior Caroline Sullivan (North Hampton, N.H.) and sophomore Sadie Rudolph (Weston, Conn.) each had a team-high three shots.