Nesterak Nets Pair, Garnet Roll Past Bears
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Garnet senior forward Evan Nesterak scored twice to lead Swarthmore to a 3-1 win over Centennial-foe Ursinus in men's soccer action at Clothier Field Saturday night.
The Garnet maintain their hold on second place in the Centennial standings, improving to 4-1 in the Conference (9-2-1 overall).
Unseasonably warm weather brought a boisterous crowd out to Clothier Field. The action on the field was rather pedestrian, however, with each side posting just six shots apiece in the first 45 minutes.
Swarthmore senior defender Jason Thrope (Port Washington, N.Y. / Schreiber) entered the game late in the first half and provided a couple of scoring opportunities via the long service. A corner kick by Thrope, in the 39th minute, found Nesterak (Parker, Colorado / Ponderosa) alone on the far post. The Garnet forward volleyed home his fourth goal of the season, putting Swarthmore out front, 1-0.
Nesterak struck again just 20 seconds into the second half. He banged a left-footed shot off the near post after a quick feed directly resulting from the opening kickoff. The ball rebounded squarely off the post, and found its way back to Nesterak’s feet. He immediately snuck the rebound into the Bears’ net at 45:20, giving the Garnet a 2-0 lead.
Garnet freshman midfielder Fabian Castro (Houston, Texas / Lamar) added a third Swarthmore goal in the 86th minute. Sophomore midfielder Andreas Lagos (Dunedin, Fla. / University) snuck a diagonal pass from the top of the box to a streaking Castro, who beat Ursinus keeper Michael Alfieri to the right side. It is the first collegiate goal for Castro.
Swarthmore goalkeeper David D’Annunzio (Piedmont, Calif. / Piedmont) thwarted the Bears’ first shot on goal of the night, a penalty kick attempt in the closing minutes.
Unfortunately, D’Annunzio’s bid at a shut out was spoiled a few minutes later when Ursinus caught the Garnet backline napping on a free kick. Bears’ defender Dustin Young served a ball into the Swarthmore box where teammate John George headed in his first goal of the season at 88:33.
Swarthmore takes the next week off before traveling to Lancaster, Pa. for a 1:00 p.m. match with Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, October 18.
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