Sophomore Second Half Sends Swarthmore Streak to Seven
Sophomores Michael Bonesteel and Brandon Washington broke open a scoreless game with three goals in nine minutes, leading to a 3-0 Swarthmore victory over Albright on a foggy Tuesday evening at Clothier Field. It is the seventh consecutive win for the Garnet (10-1 overall, 4-0 Centennial).
The first half was a hard-fought draw as neither team could get any offense; the score remained 0-0 at the intermission.
Unfortunately for the Lions, Swarthmore began the second half playing like their hair was on fire.
Washington chased down a ball on the left sideline, deftly keeping the ball inbounds while touching it towards the corner flag. The sophomore midfielder out ran the Albright defender and crossed the ball across the goal mouth. Washington called for classmate Bonesteel, who was streaking up the right flank, to finish the play. Bonesteel granted his teammate's wish, sending a mid-air volley into the left side pocket for a 1-0 Swarthmore lead at 49:05.
The tandem switched roles for the second Swarthmore goal, scored just three minutes later at 52:04. This time Bonesteel set the table, touching a ball back to midfielder Patrick Christmas '08 who crossed the ball from the right corner on into the Lions' penalty box. The ball found its way to Washington's head and the Texas native flipped in his third goal of the season, extending the Garnet lead to 2-0.
Bonesteel was the recipient of a Swarthmore bounce on his second goal of the night. Midfielder Chris Szeto '09 clanged a shot off the left post at 57:14, and the ball bounced off the inside corner back across the goal mouth where Bonesteel was all alone with an empty net. The ball officially went in at 57:15 and Bonesteel had his third goal of the year.
The Swarthmore defense held up once again, blanking their seventh opponent of the year. Senior goalkeeper Reuben Heyman-Kantor made two saves and sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Sutcliffe also made a pair of saves to combine on the shut out.
Heyman-Kantor extended his scoreless streak to 653:26, dating back a 1-0 loss to Vassar on September 10.
In their next contest, the Garnet travel north to Allentown, Pa. for a 7:00 p.m. match with Centennial rival Muhlenberg.