Garnet Step Up on Main Line, Down Owls in Rain
BRYN MAWR, Pa. - Swarthmore freshman Katie Kanuka scored twice in the final ten minutes to lead the Garnet to a thrilling 4-3 win at Centennial Conference foe Bryn Mawr in women's soccer action on a wet Wednesday afternoon. Kanuka wound up with her first career hat-trick while classmate Caitlin O'Neil added her first collegiate goal and yet another first-year, Maggie DeLorme, chipped in with two assists.
It is Swarthmore's 11th consecutive victory over the Owls.
The Owls (5-7-1 overall, 0-6 CC) got the jump on the visiting Garnet, scoring two first-half goals - Laura Costanzo banged one in off the post at 30:42 and Jess Nishiguchi added her fourth goal of the season at 33:24. The Owls maintained the 2-0 advantage into the intermission despite Swarthmore holding a slight shot edge (9-6).
Swarthmore got things rolling offensively in the early in the second half - O'Neil finished off an offering from DeLorme at 52:13, cutting the Bryn Mawr lead to 2-1. Kanuka followed with her first score 1:15 later, finishing off a rebound created by a shot from DeLorme at 53:18.
Bryn Mawr retook the lead, 3-2 at 56:04 when Wallis Romzek fed Caitlyn Clark for her first score of the season.
The Garnet (8-3-1 overall, 4-3 Centennial) rose to the challenge as the rain intensified. Kanuka knotted the match at 3-3, finishing off a corner kick from senior forward Natalie Negrey at 81:25.
The game appeared to be headed for extra time until Kanuka completed her hat-trick with the game-winner at 88:32. Kanuka got loose on a breakaway and beat the Owls' goalkeeper to the side for her 13th score of the season.
Swarthmore held a 22-11 shot advantage, including an efficient 14 shots on goal. Garnet goalkeeper Anna de Regt '09 made six saves, while Bryn Mawr's Collette Pullion stopped ten shots.
Kanuka's hat trick is the first by a Garnet woman since Negrey accomplished the feat against Washington (Md.) on Oct. 4, 2003. Kanuka now has a Centennial-leading 13 goals on the season, just six shy of the school record of 19 set by Kristen Tucker '90 in 1987..
Swarthmore will look to keep rolling on Sat., October 14 when it hosts conference foe McDaniel in a 7:00 p.m. contest.