Garnet, Bullets Fight Elements For Draw
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Swarthmore midfielder Kelsey Cline '11 scored in the 28th minute and goalkeeper Lauren Walker '09 posted four saves as the Garnet women's soccer team battled through 110 minutes of downpours, wind gusts and a persistant Gettysburg squad to earn a 1-1 draw in two overtimes Saturday afternoon at Clothier Field.
The Garnet women (9-3-2 overall, 5-1-2 CC) collected a crucial point in the race for a Centennial Conference playoff spot; seven teams are still alive with four spots available. First-place Johns Hopkins (24 points) clinched a spot and will host the 2008 Conference playoffs on the weekend of November 8-9. Swarthmore currently sits in second place with 17 points, ranking ahead of Dickinson (16 points), Ursinus (15), Muhlenberg (13), F&M (13), Gettysburg (13) and Haverford (12).
Saturday’s affair was headlined by Mother Nature; southern Delaware (Pa.) County the site of heavy down pours and frequent wind gusts.
The even contest (shot total was 14-13 in Swarthmore’s favor) saw the Garnet strike first. The Bullets cleared a Swarthmore offensive chance out of the box but Garnet defender Eileen Earl (Redmon, Wash. / Redman) sent a hard liner back at the center of the Gettysburg goalmouth. Cline (Stanwood, Wash. / Stanwood) re-directed the ball into the right corner at 27:57 for her 10th career score.
The 1-0 lead held up through halftime, the same could not be said for the rain.
The Bullets (5-5-5, 4-3-1 CC) forced the issue in the second half, using effective corner kicks from defender Lauren Johnson to test the Swarthmore defense. On more than one occasion, Walker (Fallston, Md. / The Hotchkiss School [CT]) had to fight through a maze of Gettysburg attackers to clear away Johnson’s bending serves.
One of Johnson’s offerings finally found its target in the 60th minute. Her serve from the right flank was headed into the net by midfielder Jordann Smak; it was Smak’s third goal of the season.
The two teams played on through two extra sessions, ending in a familiar refrain for the Bullets, who have a Conference-high five draws on the season (including ties with Rochester and Messiah, both perennial NCAA Tournament participants).
Bullets netminder Danielle St. Pierre posted three saves, including a leaping stop of deep tumbler off the foot of Swarthmore midfielder Sarah Reece (Manhattan Beach, Calif. / Mira Costa).
The Garnet look to sew up a third consecutive Centennial playoff berth this Tuesday evening. Swarthmore will host rival Haverford (7-9, 4-4 CC) at 7:00 p.m. in the final home regular season match; the team will honor its four seniors (defenders Alexa Bensimhon and Cait Mullarkey, forward Melinda Petre, and Walker).
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