MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Despite two second-half goals by Hamilton College's Luke Peplowski '25, the Continentals lost 4-2 against the Middlebury College Panthers in a 2024 NESCAC Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinal at Middlebury's South Street Field on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 2.

Season Update

• Hamilton, which is the No. 7 seed for the championship, finished the season with an overall record of 7-6-3.
• The second-seeded and nationally ranked No. 3 Panthers (13-0-3 overall) host the NESCAC semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 9 and the conference final on Sunday, Nov. 10.

How It Happened

• Shane Farrell opened the scoring for the Panthers just four minutes into the first half. After Farrell took a corner kick that sailed past the box, Luke Madden headed the ball back into the box towards Ari Klayman. Klayman flicked the ball back to Farrell with the outside of his right foot, and Farrell took a powerful shot that tipped off the goalkeeper's hand and into the top-left corner. 
• Middlebury doubled its lead a minute later on a goal by Colin Dugan. Hank Nelson made a run up the right side and crossed the ball into the box. Will Sawin headed the ball towards Dugan, who quickly fired a shot into the left side of the goal. 
• The Panthers extended their lead to 3-0 on a goal by Gavin Randolph in the 13th minute. Kyle Nilsson threw the ball from the right sideline into the box, where Sawin was able to head it backward to Randolph. Randolph collected the ball and swiftly guided it into the lower-left corner of the goal. 
• Peplowski put the Continentals on the board in the 50th minute off a penalty kick. 
• Peplowski brought the Continentals within a goal in the 82nd minute. Tommy Kantrowitz '25 kicked the ball upfield to the attacking zone. A Middlebury player tried to head the ball out, but the ball went straight up into the air. Pandelis Margaronis '25 collected the ball and ran into the box. Margaronis passed to Peplowski on the left side of the box, and he was able to sneak the ball into the middle of the net.
• The Panthers clinched the win in the 85th minute on a goal by Madden. Klayman threw the ball in from the left side to the middle of the box. Anderson Gardner was there to receive the ball and he tipped it off his shoulder to Madden, who beat his defender and hammered a shot into the bottom-left corner. 
• Middlebury edged Hamilton in shots 15-10, and held a 4-2 advantage on corner kicks. 

Notes

• Peplowski led the Continentals with eight goals and 18 points this season. He finished his Hamilton career with 20 goals and 56 points.
• Margaronis picked up his seventh career assist. 
• Finn Wheeler '27 recorded three saves for the Continentals. 
• The Panthers' Joey Waterman also made three stops.