MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- The Bates women's soccer team fell on the road 2-0 Saturday afternoon to Middlebury in a NESCAC contest on Dragone Field. 

Middlebury (7-3-1, 2-3-1 NESCAC) had a great chance to score just 48 seconds into the game. Magnolia Moskun dribbled the ball down the right side, cut into the box and rifled a shot from the top of the 18, but the ball went just left of the post. Bates looked to break the scoreless tie at the 33:24 mark, but junior Joanna Cloutier's (Portland, Ore.) shot went wide right. The Panthers found the back of the net with 39:30 expired. Fanny Lodge collected a loose ball inside the six, before Rose Evans buried her scoring attempt in the bottom-right corner to give Middlebury a 1-0 edge heading into the break.
 
Out of the intermission, the Bobcats (2-5-2, 1-4 NESCAC) had a chance for the equalizer, but junior Elizabeth Patrick's (Ipswich, Mass.) shot was corralled by Panther goaltender Lucy VanNewkirk. Middlebury made it 2-0 with 51:16 expired. Olivia Reilly collected a loose ball inside the 18 and served a pass to Lodge, who rifled a shot into the bottom- left corner. 
 
The Panthers held a 15-4 advantage in shots during the victory. VanNewkirk earned her fourth career shutout with one save, while senior Kat Nuckols (Los Angeles) made seven stops during the game.

Bates is back in action Sunday at No. 20 nationally ranked Amherst. The match is set for 1pm.