MIDDLEBURY, VT. – Despite dominating the run of play, the No. 22-ranked Amherst College women's soccer team settled for a tie on Saturday, Sept. 20. Facing perennial rival Middlebury on the road in Vermont, the Mammoths couldn't find the back of the net and walked away with a 0-0 draw.

With the tie, the Mammoths move to 4-1-1 this season, while the Panthers move to 5-0-2. Amherst will finish up their road trip with an out-of-conference matchup against local foe Springfield College on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Kickoff their contest against the Pride is set for 7 p.m.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
 
* Even though they came off a 3.5 hour bus ride, the Mammoths started the game strong, putting their opponents on the back foot right from the opening kickoff. They controlled the flow of the game, pinging the ball around with ease and keeping the Panthers defenders chasing the ball. Shots came from all over the lineup, with Brooke Ingemi, Sophia Haynes, and Katie Pedersen all threatening the Middlebury keeper in the game's first 20 minutes.
 
* It was shortly after that point that Amherst got the first of their two best first-half opportunities: great defensive work from Jessica Lomo forced a Panther defender to cough up the ball, and the junior gained a free run at goal. Unfortunately, she was unable to put it away, firing the ball just wide to maintain the 0-0 scoreline.
 
* That energy did not wane, and the Mammoths kept peppering the Middlebury net as the half went on. With five minutes to go in the half, a Katie O'Reilly pass sprung first-year speedster Emma Darling in on goal, but her one-on-one effort flew wide as well. Though Middlebury got their best shot of the game shortly thereafter, Lulu Fickes was able to tip the ball over the bar, and the teams entered the half scoreless.
 
* Amherst did not take their foot off the gas in the second, getting multiple set piece chances as the game took a physical turn. However, their best chances of the second half both came on corner kicks. the first came from Mekhala Costello after Ella Johnson put a Middlebury half-clearance back into the box; the sophomore's effort to the lower left corner was pounced on by the Panthers' keeper. The second came directly off the set-piece, with Kate Quigley getting on the end of a ball from Caroline Coletti and sending the header just inches wide.
 
* Both teams pushed hard for a winner at the end of the game, but neither was able to score and the final whistle blew with the score at 0-0.   
 
 
BY THE NUMBERS:
 
* This is the 5th draw the last 7 matches between these teams. Amherst has won both other contests.
 
* Lomo led the Mammoths offensively, taking 5 shots with 3 on frame.

* The Mammoths outshot the Panthers 19-9 overall, including 8-3 in shots on goal, and earned 5 corners in the match to Middlebury's 3.
 
* Fickes made 3 saves in a relatively quiet game for the Amherst defense.