Second-Half Surge Sends Garnet Past Mules 2-0
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore got second-half goals from sophomore Yoi Tibbetts and junior Michael Bonesteel and three saves from junior goalkeeper Ryan Sutcliffe as the Garnet (7-3-1, 3-2 CC) took care of the Muhlenberg Mules (5-2-2, 2-2-1 CC) 2-0 on a cool Saturday evening at Clothier Stadium.
The first half saw 11 total shots but few good scoring opportunities. Tibbetts nearly put the Garnet on the board midway through the period but an offsides call nullified the goal.
Swarthmore finally got on the board with 36:20 left in the second half. The ball came into the box to Garnet forward Stu Leon '09, who was readying a shot when a Mule defender knocked the ball away. Unfortunately for the Mules, the ball came right out to Tibbetts, who wasted no time in slamming it home."
The intensity mounted after the goal and, as the referees let the teams play, players from both squads complained about some of the no-calls. Although Sutcliffe was rarely challenged, defender Darren Johnson '08 came on and blocked a shot by Mule midfielder Jonathan Kliewer in which he stood with one foot inside the goal but caught the ball in front of the endline.
Finally, with 3:40 to play, Bonesteel put the Mules away for the good. The junior played give-and-go with freshman Andres Freire, who made a pretty backwards pass to Bonesteel, who bent the ball just under the crossbar for his first goal of the season.
The Garnet held a 10-9 shot advantage on the evening. Sutcliffe and Mule netminder Peter Bennett made three saves a piece.
The win gets the Garnet a measure of revenge over the Mules, who defeated Swarthmore twice last season and eliminated them from the Centennial Conference playoffs.
Swarthmore steps out of conference play for Wednesday night's match with FDU-Florham. Gametime at Clothier Stadium is 7:00 p.m.