No. 11 Garnet Upset No. 2 Stevens Tech 1-0
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Last season, the Swarthmore College men's soccer team traveled to Stevens Tech and ended the Ducks' 62-game home winning streak. A year later, at Clothier Field Stadium, the result was the same.
Sophomore Roberto Contreras IV scored in 23rd minute on a beautiful volley in the front of the box and the Garnet defense put a stranglehold on the potent Ducks' offense, as No. 11 Swarthmore (4-0) defeated No. 2 Stevens Tech 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.
The victory marks the highest-ranked opponent ever defeated by a Swarthmore men's soccer team on record. The win is also the program's first win against a Top 5 opponent since the Garnet topped No. 5 Stevens Tech last season.
Contreras scored the game-winning goal midway through the first half.
"Obviously, this is a big win for us," said head coach Eric Wagner. "But it's still just one small step in the direction that we want to take this program."
As expected, play was at a high level and both teams executed their offense with precision. But the match proved to be low scoring, as both teams' defenses were also up to the task. Midway through the first half, Contreras capitalized on a header assist from sophomore forward David Sterngold after a scramble in the Ducks' goal area. He volleyed a left-footed shot into the right corner of the net, giving the Garnet a 1-0 lead and sending the Clothier Field crowd of nearly into a frenzy.
With the 1-0 lead, the Garnet defense took over for the rest of a very physical match, swarming the Ducks at every opportunity and limiting Stevens to only three shots on goal, two of which came in the opening minutes of play. Tmatch produced 33 fouls, 22 of which were on the home team. Junior Morgan Langley almost sealed the game for the Garnet with an upper-90 blast on goal in the 74th minute, but Stevens' 'Keeper Zach Carr made a great save to deny him. Swarthmore's midfielders controlled possession down the stretch and the defense stood firm against a late Duck attack, as the Garnet held on for the victory.
Sophomore goalkeeper David D'Annunzio was excellent in net for the Garnet, recording his second shutout of the season with three saves.
The No. 11 Garnet return to action this Wednesday at 5:00 p.m., when it hosts local rival Widener.