Garnet Women Nationally Ranked, Defeat Albright
READING, Pa. - The Swarthmore women's soccer team celebrated a national ranking with a 2-1 non-conference victory at Albright Tuesday night. The Garnet remained undefeated in 2007 (5-0-0) while Albright falls to 2-4-0 overall.
In the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas poll released on Sept. 18. Swarthmore is ranked #23 (tied with Transylvania). The Garrnet women are also listed fourth in the Middle Atlantic region, behind the College of New Jersey, Messiah and Centennial-rival Johns Hopkins.
Garnet freshman Hannah Purkey (Palo Alto, Calif. / Palo Alto) pushed visiting Swarthmore out to a 1-0 lead Tuesday evening, scoring at 16:58 off a pass from classmate Kirsten Peterson (Fenton, Mich. / Powers Catholic). It is Purkey's first collegiate goal and third point overall.
The Lady Lions evened the match at 1-1 as senior forward Megan Gring (Shillington, Pa. / Governor Mifflin) put up a goal assisted by classmate Stephanie Deswert (Wyomissing, Pa. / Wyomissing) at 21:34.
It is the first goal allowed by Swarthmore this season, bringing to an end a scoreless streak of 402:07 (dating back to the 2006 ECAC Tournament). The Garnet were the last team in Division III to allow a goal in 2007; Gordon (Mass.), the only other team yet to allow a score, fell 1-0 in overtime to Curry this afternoon.
Swarthmore saw a fifth freshman notch a goal in 2007, this one holding up as the game-winner. The scoring chance began with sophomore midfielder Monica Cody (Torrance, Calif. / Marymount) sending a ball down the sideline. Peterson ran on the ball and sent it into the box. Freshman Elizabeth Mills (San Diego, Calif. / The Bishop's School) volleyed the ball into the back of the net at 70:36, propelling the visitors to victory.
Garnet goalkeeper Lauren Walker ' 09 (Fallston, Mary. / The Hotchkiss School) made two saves in net for Swarthmore.
The Garnet will take this weekend off and will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 25 when Washington (Md.) comes to Clothier Field for a 7:00 p.m. match.