Colombo Solves Green Terror
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Swarthmore sophomore forward Megan Colombo sent a chilled Clothier Field crowd home happy, scoring the game-winning goal in the 104th minute to give the Garnet a 1-0 double-overtime win over Centennial-foe McDaniel Saturday evening.
Colombo (Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia) ran onto a through ball from junior midfielder Maggie DeLorme (Lusby, Md. / Patuxent) and tucked a volley into the right corner at 103:57 for her fifth goal of the season (third game-winner).
The Garnet blanked an opponent for the fifth time in 2008, improving to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Centennial. Swarthmore keeps pace in the Conference standings, holding nine points to remain in a second-place tie with F&M and Ursinus.
Swarthmore, desperate to start a new home winning-streak—the Garnet suffered a heart-breaking 1-0 double overtime loss to Eastern in their last match on Clothier Field—used varying scoring methods in search of a crack in the Green Terror defense.
After the first 45 minutes, Swarthmore held a commanding 15-1 shot advantage yet some fantastic play by Green Terror goalkeeper Leanne Hollinger kept zeroes on the scoreboard. Hollinger set the tone early, leaping high to push a rocket from Swarthmore midfielder Sarah Reece (Manhattan Beach, Calif. / Mira Costa) off the cross bar at 6:01.
McDaniel (4-6 overall, 1-2 CC) sensed one opportunity would bring them a victory and the Green Terror loosened up the offense in the second half, sending long serves to forward Brittany Baer, the Centennial’s leading scorer entering the night (six goals, four assists).
The Swarthmore backline, led by speedy defenders Cait Mullarkey (Wilmington, Del. / Ursuline Academy) and Laura Bolger (Centerport, N.Y. / Harborfields), successfully corralled Baer, sending the possession back to Garnet feet.
A 26-4 shot advantage followed Swarthmore into overtime, the sixth extra-session match at Clothier Field in the last three seasons. The Garnet had a 2-2-1 record in those previous five matches.
The first overtime period had minimal excitement, save for the near miss from 25 yards out by Swarthmore midfielder Taylor Rhodes ’10 (Redlands, Calif. / Redlands East Valley).
The game-winning goal happened just as many of the fans at Clothier Field had envisioned when coming to the match. 2007 All-Centennial selection DeLorme, controlled the ball near midfield and scooted a feed through the Green Terror backline. As the McDaniel defenders turned to give chase, Colombo was already flying by at full speed. Colombo, also selected All-Centennial last season, angled toward the left post and sent a shot across to the right side for her sixth career game-winning goal (the most in the Conference over the last two seasons).
Swarthmore goalkeeper Lauren Walker (Fallston, Md. / The Hotchkiss School [CT]) made two second-half saves to post her third shutout of the season. Walker now has 22 career shutouts, ranking sixth all-time in the Centennial record books. Her career goals-against average lowers to 0.74, good for third all-time in the Conference.
Hullinger posted 10 saves, several acrobatic, in the loss for McDaniel.
The Garnet continue Centennial action this Thursday, Oct. 9, hosing Tri-Co rival Bryn Mawr at 7:00 p.m.
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