2004 Season Recap
In a season of ups and downs, the Swarthmore women's soccer team earned several key victories and enjoyed many breakthrough performances on the individual level despite struggling to a final record of 4-13-1.
The Garnet started the year strong, winning two of its first three games, including a 2-1 victory over a strong Alvernia team in the consolation game of the Swat Kick Classic. The early surge was led by Natalie Negrey '07, who scored four goals in the first four games and would finish as the team's leading scorer with seven goals. Classmate Jane Sachs also provided the Garnet with offensive firepower early in the year, netting two goals and three assists in the team's first four contests.
After a solid start, the team battled through a three-game losing streak, dropping games to York and Wesley at the Widener Classic and losing to nationally ranked Richard Stockton. Starting Centennial Conference play in a game at Franklin & Marshall, the team earned an uplifting 1-0 overtime victory in which defender Lauren Kett '05 scored her first career goal, ending the game midway through the first overtime period with a shot that caromed off the post and into the net. First-year goalkeepers Kristen Traband and Rachel Jordan combined for the shutout.
Following the overtime win, the Garnet hit a lull in which the team went winless in the next nine games. The Garnet was shut out by Gettysburg and Muhlenberg in back-to-back games and tied Washington College in a game that went to two overtime periods. A 2-1 loss to Ursinus and a 3-0 loss to Johns Hopkins sent the team into fall break with an overall record of 3-8-1.
Taking advantage of the break in classes, the team traveled to Maine Oct. 11-14 to take on Bates College and University of Maine-Farmingdale. Despite solid performances, the Garnet returned home from its northern road trip with two losses.
In its first game following the trip to Maine, Swarthmore hosted conference foe McDaniel. Playing with a renewed focus and tremendous energy, the women hung tough with the Green Terror, not letting the physical play-or a 10-minute torrential downpour midway through the second half-distract them. Despite the incredible effort, McDaniel found the net two minutes into the second overtime, leaving the Garnet stunned by the heartbreaking loss.
Determined to finish the year strong, the team suffered a disappointing loss to Dickinson in its next game before earning a tough 1-0 win over Bryn Mawr. Sachs headed home a Negrey cross in the 81st minute for the game winner against Bryn Mawr, and the Garnet defense turned in an outstanding effort to help Traband record her first career shutout. In its final game, the Garnet suffered a 5-0 defeat by Haverford to close out the season with a 2-7-1 mark in Centennial Conference play.
Sachs and senior co-captain Jordan Shakeshaft were recognized for their standout play throughout the season, both earning All-Centennial Conference honorable mention.
Although the team is losing eight talented players to graduation, the returning group is determined to turn things around next year and return to contention.