Goldsteins Career Day Leads Mules Past Garnet
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Muhlenberg (10-3, 5-3) freshman attack Rachel Goldstein doubled her previous career-high with six goals as the visiting Mules defeated Swarthmore 17-10 in Centennial women's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon.
Goldstein (Ardmore, Pa. / Shipley School) fought off an early Garnet (4-10, 0-6) onslaught with four goals in the first twenty minutes and added two more in the second half as the visitors extended their lead.
Sophomore midfielder Alex Gilbert-Bono (Wellesley, Ma. – St. Mark’s) got the Garnet off to a flying start. Gilbert-Bono controlled the opening draw, sprinted down the field through the Mule defense, and beat Muhlenberg freshman goalkeeper Allisyn Vachon (Montville, N.J. – Montville) off the bounce without breaking stride just 15 seconds into the game.
The Garnet continued to look sharp at both ends. Senior goalkeeper Susannah Blair (Princeton, N.J. / Princeton Day) stopped Mule senior Taylor Armstrong (Montain Lakes, N.J./ Mountain Lakes) from matching Gilbert-Bono’s fast-break heroics with a tough save, then intercepted a pass behind the net. Minutes later, Garnet freshman midfielder Emily Evans (Atlanta, Ga. / North Springs) ended the next Mule possession by blocking a pass. The ball ended up with Swarthmore sophomore midfielder Abbe Muller (West Hartford, Conn. / Conard), who took the ball down the field and put it home.
Muhlenberg controlled the draw, but Blair broke up another attempted pass near the net and the ensuing possession ended with a Muller free-position goal. After Goldstein’s first goal, Gilbert-Bono found a wide-open Muller in front of the net with a beautiful feed through traffic. Muller completed the hat trick, giving the Garnet a 4-1 lead with 21:52 on the clock.
The Mules came right back with two scores in the next minute and would go on to score seven goals in a row. Armstrong, Goldstein, and sophomore Alyssa Bascelli (Wayne, N.J. / Wayne Hills) all scored in the 20th minute of play.
Swarthmore jumped up off the mat, scoring four of the next five goals in a 11-minute span sandwiched around halftime. Junior Marissa Schaffer (Moreland Hill, Ohio / Moreland School), freshman Amy Vachal (Somerset, N.J. / Rutgers Prep.), junior Kelsey Hatzell (Havertown, Pa. / Havertown), and freshman Emily Evans (Atlanta, Ga. / North Springs) all scored as the Garnet cut the Mule lead to 9-8.
But the Mules came up with another scoring streak, this time scoring five unanswered goals to open up a six-goal lead with just 15 minutes left, including Goldstein’s fifth and sixth of the game.
The final 15 minutes went by quietly, with just five combined goals. Vachal and Schaffer each added their second tally of the game for the Garnet.
Sophomore Amanda McGovern and junior Sara Hiller joined Goldstein with a hat trick each, and Armstrong’s five assists give the senior 40 on the year, tops in the Centennial Conference. Vachon made ten saves in net for the Mules.
With three goals and an assist, Muller joins teammates Vachal and Schaffer in the 25-point club. Evans’ goal gives the freshman 20 points on the year, and Gilbert-Bono is at 15 after a goal and two assists.
Blair made six saves in goal and led the Garnet with seven ground balls. The senior leads the Centennial in the latter category with 58.
Swarthmore will wrap up the Centennial Conference season with three games in the coming week, starting with a home game on Tuesday, April 15th vs. Bryn Mawr. Game time on Clothier Field is set for 7:00 p.m.
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