Garnet Clip Crimson Eagles
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore controlled play early and late, rolling to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Biblical University Crimson Eagles on Tuesday night at Clothier Stadium. Sophomores Melinda Petre and Anna de Regt, and freshman Julia Luongo all notched their first goals of the young season as the Garnet improved to 3-0-1.
Swarthmore controlled play early, creating several opportunities, but did not break through until the 16th minute. Philadelphia Bible goalkeeper Laura Wronski mis-hit a punt, hitting the back of one of her defenders, and in the confusion, Garnet senior midfielder Kasie Groom took control of the ball. Groom hit forward Katie Kanuka '10, who was streaking up the right side. Kanuka took the pass, paused, patiently weaved her way by two defenders, and finally hit a curving shot across the goal mouth, past Wronski, and into the left side of the net.
The Garnet struck again in the 41st minute and for the first time all year, it wasn't Kanuka doing the scoring. Taking the offensive reins was Petre, who accepted a pretty pass from Groom about 12 yards from the net and unleashed a left-footed bomb into the back of the net with 4:47 remaining in the half. The 2-0 margin persisted into the break.
Swarthmore held a 17-1 shot advantage in the opening period.
Swarthmore continued to get frequent shots early in the second period and finally added a third goal midway through the period. Natalie Negrey '07 took a corner kick and lofted the ball out close to the 18-yard line. Luongo, who had been left wide open as the Crimson Eagle defenders bunched around the goal line, trapped the ball before blasting it through traffic and into the net.
Negrey nearly added a goal of her own in the 79th minute, but PBU backup goalie Melissa Landis went horizontal to make a diving save. Minutes later, though, Landis could do nothing to stop de Regt from hitting a high, looping ball from near the endline into the side of the net, closing out the scoring.
The Garnet finished with a 41-2 advantage in shots and took all of the game's 13 corner kicks.
Walker, named Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Mid-Atlantic Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this week, did not have to make her save on the way to her second consecutive shutout (third of the season); the sophomore goalie extended her scoreless streak to 233:31.
Wronski made seven saves in the first half while Landis collected six saves for the Crimson Eagles (2-3).
The Garnet will look to carry their early-season momentum into the Centennial Conference season when they travel to Lancaster, Pa. to face Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 12:00 p.m.