Swarthmore Alive and Kicking in 2008
Winners of the program's first-ever ECAC Division III Southern Region Championship, the Garnet turned out the best winning percentage since 1960 with a 14-3-3 overall record. Eighteen lettermen return in 2008, aiming to continue the Swarthmore soccer success.
The 2008 Garnet veterans took a pre-season training trip in August. The main itinerary hot spots were the two cities of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. During the two-week trip the team participated in various training sessions, a community service project, cheered on local teams at professional matches and took in the sights of the international cities (please check out their official Trip Blog for full details).
In 2008, head coach Eric Wagner will likely rely on the skills of Gage Newman '11 (Cambridge, Mass. / Buckingham Browne & Nicholas), Jeff Kushner '09 (Norristown, Pa. / Methacton) and Rory Stackpole '09 (Sanford, Maine / Sanford) along the back line. Newman stepped on the field last season as a freshman standout and played in 16 games providing the team with a fresh outlook. Stackpole, an outside defender, is quick to clear the ball out of the back field. Following a stellar junior campaign as a center back, Kushner received his first All-Centennial nod after he scored two goals and assisted on another for a combination of five points as a defender. He was also named All-Tournament at the annual Garnet Alumni Classic on the opening week of the season.
All-Centennial striker Ladule Lako Lo Sarah '09 (Davis, Calif. / Claremont), led the Garnet with career-highs in points (18) and goals (eight), finishing in a tie for the ninth-most goals scored in the Centennial last season. He will be the driving force of Swarthmore's front line along with classmate Evan Nesterak (Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa). Nesterak ranked second on the team in 2007 with seven goals (three were game-winners) and a total of 16 points.
Junior captain Zach Weimar (Rutledge, Pa. / Friends Central) takes over the starting goalkeeper duties in 2008 after allowing just one score in over 300 minutes of action in 2008.
The team opens the season with the 11th-annual Garnet Alumni Classic at Clothier Field on Friday, August 29th at 5:00 against Skidmore College. They will then take on Richard Stockton the following day to close the Classic tournament schedule. The team has another grueling schedule ahead of them which are all set for great match-ups. As a member of the Centennial Conference the Garnet will take on Johns Hopkins and Franklin & Marshall nationally ranked 15th and 21st, respectfully, in the NCAA preseason poll.