No. 20 Garnet Blanked by Haverford 3-0
HAVERFORD, Pa. - Haverford got two goals over a two-minute span in the second half to put away the No. 20 Swarthmore College women's soccer team 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon from a wet and muddy Walton Field at Haverford College. Despite the loss, the Garnet (12-4, 6-3) clinched a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs thanks to Dickinson's 1-0 victory over Gettysburg.
Luongo led the Garnet with two shots on goal.
With the win, the Fords (12-2-2, 7-2) take over sole possession of third place in the Centennial Conference and also clinched a playoff spot.
In yet another cold and rainy gameday, the Fords wasted no time jumping on the Garnet, scoring in the 13th minute of play when Katie Van Aken - the reigning Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week - headed home her ninth of the season off an excellent cross from the right wing by Hannah Davis, giving Haverford the early 1-0 lead.
The teams would play even throughout the rest of the first half and early in the second, with Swat creating several opportunities to even the match, but a two-minute blitz by the Fords put the game out of reach. In the 69th minute, Erin Verrier's high, bending shot from 18 yards out slipped just past the outreached arms of Swat goalkeeper Marie Mutryn, giving Haverford a 2-0 lead.
Then in the 71st minute, Haverford's Katie Bigay beat her defender off the dribble from outside the box to the left wing, shot low past Mutryn and past a sliding Swarthmore defender at the goal line, bringing the score to the 3-0 final.
Mutryn made two saves in goal for the Garnet, while senior Julia Luongo led the offense with three shots and two on goal.
With the win, Haverford takes an early 1-0 lead in the battle for the Hood Trophy.
Swarthmore returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Franklin & Marshall for Senior Day. The game can be seen live via the Garnet Sports Network.