Garnet Rally Past Alvernia for 2-1 Season-Opening Victory
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Junior Kelsey Cline headed home the game-winning goal - off a beautiful cross from junior Hannah Purkey - in the 78th minute as the Swarthmore women's soccer team (1-0-0) rallied for a 2-1 non-conference victory over Alvernia in the squad's 2009 debut.
Senior Julia Luongo also added her first goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1 with a goal that pinballed off two Alvernia defenders into the back of the net in the 43rdminute of play.
The Garnet attack was in control for much of the game – out-shooting the visiting Crusaders 24-4 and 11-0 in the second half – but the team just couldn’t seem to find the back of the net and needed to rally in the final minutes for the hard-fought victory.
“Overall, I thought we played well,” said head coach Todd Anckaitis. “We had a lot of scoring opportunities and we got to see a lot of the things that we have been working on in practice.”
Alvernia (0-1-0) put the pressure on the homestanding Garnet from the get-go, as Kate Winberg headed home a goal from inside the box off the Crusaders’ lone corner kick in the 13th minute to give the Crusaders the early 1-0 advantage.
Swarthmore had plenty of chances throughout the first half, missing several scoring opportunities by mere inches. Both junior Megan Colombo and freshman Haley Most had point-blank scoring chances thwarted by Alvernia goalkeeper Kirsten Kelley. Luongo finally broke the ice with her goal in 43rd minute, set-up by a cross from sophomore Hannah Deming assisted from the Alvernia defense, who deflecting the ball into the net.
The Garnet continued to pepper the Crusader defense in the second half, finally netting the winning goal on Cline’s leaping header from let wing.
In goal for the Garnet, sophomore Marie Mutryn had three saves.
For Alvernia, Kelley added seven saves while facing pressure all night.
The Swarthmore women’s soccer team returns to action on Saturday, September 5, when it hosts Bible Baptist as part of the annual Swat Classic.