Colombo, Garnet Hunt Down Bears
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. -- Swarthmore forward Megan Colombo '11 netted the lone goal in the 43rd minute to lead the Garnet to a 1-0 win at Ursinus in Centennial Conference women's soccer action on a chilly Wilkes Field Wednesday afternoon.
The victory is Swarthmore’s first win in six match-ups at Collegeville and the eighth shutout of the season for the Garnet. Swarthmore (9-3-1, 5-1-1 CC) vault over the Bears (6-8-1, 5-3 CC) into second place in the Conference standings. The Garnet (16 points) trail defending champion Johns Hopkins (21 points) with three regular-season matches remaining for either team.
Wednesday’s match provided the Swarthmore women a chance at revenge—Ursinus had bounced the Garnet from the 2007 Conference playoffs in penalty kicks. The stage was set between two of the Centennial’s top netminders: Swarthmore senior Lauren Walker (Fallston, Md. / The Hotchkiss School [CT]) and Ursinus senior Lisa Clark, the reigning Centennial Defensive Player of the Week--10 shutouts between the two.
Swarthmore fought through the 20 mph. headwinds to put early pressure on the Bears’ backline. Colombo (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) shook loose near the midfield circle, joining a fantastic through-ball from freshman forward Emily Coleman (New Haven, Conn. / Choate Rosemary Hall) in a seam in the Ursinus’ defense. Clark came out to meet Colombo and the ball, but was unable to secure the bouncing sphere. Colombo ran onto the loose ball and swiftly shot it into the net for her sixth goal of the season (fourth game-winner.
Walker kept the Bears off the board, making six saves while thwarting many crossing attempts for her fifth shutout of the season. Clark was equally as impressive, turning away 10 shots in the losing effort.
The Garnet return to Clothier Field this Saturday, October 25th for a 3:00 p.m. match with Gettysburg.
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