Swarthmore Serves Up Senior Special
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Freshman Kirsten Peterson (Fenton, Mich. / Powers Catholic) scored a pair of goals, leading the Garnet women (12-2-1, 7-2-1 CC) to a 2-0 win over visiting Franklin and Marshall (8-6-2, 5-5 CC) in Centennial soccer action. With the win, Swarthmore clinches a first-round bye in the Centennial Conference playoffs.
Before the match, Swarthmore honored senior captains Danielle Tocchet (Wesst Point, N.Y. / James I. O’Neill) and Kristen Traband (Swarthmore, Pa. / Ridley). Tocchet ranks 6th in school history with 18 goals, earning a spot on the A ll-conference team with a career-high eight goals in 2005. In 2007, Tocchet earned conference player of the week honors by scoring game-winning goals in consecutive Centennial matches on September 26th and 29th. Traband, a two-year captain, commands the respect of teammates and peers alike due to her unparalleled leadership and team play.
Swarthmore controlled play from the opening whistle, peppering F&M goalkeeper Erin Roy (Boxborough, Mass. / Middlesex) with shots. In the 27th minute, the consistent pressure turned into a goal. Freshman Hannah Purkey (Palo Alto, Calif. / Palo Alto) hit a low cross from the left side. The ball squirted through traffic near the goal mouth to a wide-open Peterson, who scored her third of the year at 26:53.
Peterson’s second tally of the game came in the 57th minute, sending a high, bouncing shot over the outstretched arms of Roy from 15 yards out. The freshman, who leads the team in assists with seven, is now second on the team in points with 15, trailing only classmate Megan Colombo (18).
Junior goalkeeper Lauren Walker (Fallston, Md./ Hotchkiss School) made one save in just under 70 minutes of action, lowering her season goals-against average to 0.34. The crowd, which had been chanting Traband’s name every few minutes all game long, greeted the senior’s entrance with a standing ovation. Traband did not have to make a save while wrapping up the shutout, Swarthmore’s 10th of the season.
The Garnet finished the match with a 24-6 advantage in shots and a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. Roy kept the Diplomats in the game with eight saves.
Swarthmore finishes the Centennial schedule with 22 points, nosing out last year’s 21 for the highest Garnet total in the conference’s 15-year history.
Pending the result of tomorrow’s Johns Hopkins – Ursinus match, the Garnet will be either the #2 or #3 seed in next weekend’s conference championship and travel to either Baltimore, Mary. or Collegeville, Pa. The full playoff schedule will be announced on Monday afternoon.