Garnet Soak Devils
SWARTHMORE. Pa. - Swarthmore junior Brandon Washington had a goal and an assist and classmate Michael Bonesteel notched his second goal leading the Garnet men's soccer team to victory over the visiting Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham (FDU) Devils 2-1 on a soggy Clothier Field Wednesday night.
The start of the game was delayed by just over an hour after heavy traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike delayed FDU's arrival. Heavy rain ended just before the eventual 8:05 start time.
Bonesteel put the Garnet (8-3) got on the board with 1:04 remaining in the first half. The junior midfielder took a pass from Washington on the right wing near the edge of the box and lofted the ball just over the head of FDU goalkeeper Jared Drucker and into the upper right corner of the net.
Swarthmore held a 5-2 lead in shots at the half and generally was able to keep the ball away from freshman goalkeeper Zach Weimar, who made one save in the period.
Washington was on the finishing end of Swarthmore's second goal, which came just 5:58 into the second period. Sophomore Stu Leon passed the ball up-field to classmate Ladule Lako lo Sarah, who touched it through to Washington. The junior broke past the Devil defensive line, ran onto the ball, and shot it just past Drucker (who had come out the net), banking the ball off the post and into the back of the net. The goal is Washington's first of the season.
FDU (3-9-1) cut the lead to one at 55:15 on an Alex Malcolm header. The ball came bouncing towards the goal and Malcolm rose high and put the ball just over the outstretched hands of Weimar.
Swarthmore controlled play down the stretch, denying the Devils any hopes of a comeback. Junior midfielder Andrew Macurdy was active off the bench, hitting four shots and putting two on goal.
Weimar finished the match with two saves while improving to 4-1 on the year. Drucker made six stops for the visitors. Swathmore finished the match with a 16-6 shot advantage.
Swarthmore resumes its Centennial Conference schedule this Saturday, Oct. 14, travelling to 11th-ranked Johns Hopkins for a 4:00 p.m. game.