Newman Nets Two as No. 6 Garnet Defeat Rival Haverford 4-2
HAVERFORD, Pa. - Junior defender Gage Newman - who missed the previous game because of an illness - returned to the pitch in style, scoring two second half goals to help lead the No. 6 Swarthmore College men's soccer team (14-1-2, 6-1-2) to 4-2 victory at rival Haverford on Saturday afternoon.
Dynamic scorers sophomore David Sterngold and junior Morgan Langley also scored in the first half for the Garnet to conclude the regular season with a victory.
Newman scored two second-half goals in the win over Haverford.
After being shut out for only the second time this season - by Muhlenberg in the scoreless draw on Wednesday - the Garnet offense that leads the Centennial Conference in every statistical category finally came back to life against the Fords. Sterngold got it started early, scoring in the 14th minute on a through-ball from sophomore defender Brett McLarney from the right wing. Just six minute later, Morgan Langley found the back of the net for the first time since October 7th against Richard Stockton, dribbling past the Haverford goalkeeper after a great pass from the midfield by brother Dylan, giving the Garnet a commanding 2-0 lead.
But this is rivalry game, and the Fords didn't just roll over when facing the two goal deficit. In the 44th minute, Swarthmore junior goalkeeper Zach Weimar punched a flighted ball out to the top of the Garnet penalty area, where Haverford's Fernando Garcia waited for the opportunity. He knocked a line-drive shot past Weimar into the left corner of the net, cutting the lead to 2-1.
In the second half, Newman came to the rescue for the visitors. He scored his first goal on a header off a free kick from sophomore midfielder Micah Rose in the 53rd minute, extending the lead to 3-1. Newman then had the dagger in the 65th minute, scoring off a corner kick. Sophomore midfielder Roberto Contreras IV drove the corner into the Haverford goalmouth, where Newman poked it back against the grain into the left side of the net to bring the score to 4-1. It was Contreras' team-leading sixth assist of the season. He is also now second in the Centennial Conference in assists.
Morgan Langley's goal, his 13th of the campaign, ties him for the conference lead. Morgan Langley also climbs higher in several single-season and career scoring and assist records in Swarthmore Soccer history. He is now tied for 8th in career points (50), tied for 5th in career assists (12), tied for 4th in single-season points (28), and tied for 5th in single-season goals (13).
In goal for the Garnet, Weimar got the start and made two saves. Sophomore David D'Annunzio saw 26 minutes of action, making four saves. In goal for Haverford, Jamey Applegate made five saves. Swarthmore were out-shot by the hosts, 17-15, but held an 11-6 edge in corner kicks.
With the win, and Dickinson's scoreless draw against Franklin & Marshall this afternoon, the Garnet earn the No. 2 seed in the Centennial Conference playoffs, which will begin next Saturday, November 7. The Garnet will play either Dickinson or Johns Hopkins, depending on how the Blue Jays fare against Washington College this evening. Muhlenberg College, who earned a 1-0 victory over Ursinus this afternoon, will host the semifinals and finals next weekend in Allentown. Kickoff times will be announced Monday, November 2nd.