A Perfect Ten!
Danielle Tocchet '08 scored with 34 seconds remaining in the second overtime, sending Swarthmore to a 1-0 victory over Earlham College in first round action of the Swarthmore Kick Classic on Saturday afternoon.
The victory marks the tenth consecutive year the Garnet have won their home opener, dating back to the 1996 season.
On this day, the Quakers and the Garnet battled through 109 minutes of scoreless action in a physical contest that featured 19 fouls.
Earlham midfielder Hillary Carter got off two solid shots in the first overtime, but was unable to get anything past Garnet freshman keeper Lauren Walker.
With time running down in the second extra period Swarthmore midfielder Anna de Regt '09 settled a long pass at the top of the Quaker box, found a passing lane on the right side, and dropped the ball off to the streaking Tocchet. The Swarthmore forward touched the ball ahead and blasted the game-winner over the shoulder of Earlham goalkeeper Kari Wilder-Romans.
It was the third career goal for Tocchet, and the first career assist for de Regt. Swarthmore ended a scoreless streak that had stretched 317:52, dating back to a Jane Sachs '06 goal against Bryn Mawr in October 2004.
Walker made seven saves in goal for the shutout, while Wilder-Romans made six stops for Earlham (0-1).
The Garnet return to Clothier Field at 12:00 pm on Sunday, squaring off with Widener College in the championship game of the Swarthmore Kick Classic. Widener defeated Alvernia 3-1 earlier on Saturday.