Luongo Shot Gives Garnet Overtime Victory
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore freshman midfielder Julia Luongo broke a scoreless tie in overtime with a 35-yard game-winner as the Garnet women's soccer team won a key Centennial Conference match 1-0 over visiting Muhlenberg on Youth Soccer in America Night at Clothier Field.
Swarthmore ended a nine-match losing skid to the Mules with the victory - the last Garnet win over Muhlenberg came in 1994 (a 3-1 win).
Swarthmore freshman Caitlin O'Neill earned the assist by playing the ball from the box back to Luongo, who hit a perfect shot over the outstretched fingers of Mule goalkeeper Shauna Henley and into the upper left corner of the goal. Luongo had been left open after the Mules pulled their midfielders back to try to stop a prolonged Garnet offensive sequence. Three Swarthmore reserves, sophomore Melinda Petre and freshmen Caitlin O'Neill and Taylor Rhodes maintained pressure throughout the overtime period.
Both teams played solid defense in the scoreless first half. Each squad managed two shots on goal, but all were from far out and none of the four saves made were difficult. Swarthmore's Katie Kanuka '10 came the closest to scoring, but her left-footed drive in the 25th minute went just right of the goal.
The second half saw more chances for both teams but only one shot on goal - a Kanuka attempt from close range that went straight to Henley. The standout freshman took six shots on the evening but could not extend a four-game goal scoring streak.
Sophomore Anna de Regt made two saves in goal for the Garnet, while Henley finished with three stops for the Mules, who fell to 4-4 on the year and 1-2 in the Centennial.
Swarthmore (6-1-1, 2-1 CC) returns to action on Sat., Sept. 30, travelling to Washington (Md.) for a 12:00 p.m. game