Garnet Lax Ends Two Losing Streaks With 11-7 Win Over Washington College
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College men's lacrosse team (2-7, 1-5) picked up its first Centennial Conference victory of the season - and ended a 57-year drought against Washington College in the process.
Senior Tyler Bradshaw tied a career-high with four goals, while senior Gavin Musynske, sophomore John Bukawyn and freshman Wes Marcik each scored two goals as the Garnet topped the Shoremen 11-7 on a warm, summer-like Wednesday evening from Clothier Field Stadium.
Bradshaw now has 23 goals for the 2010 season.
The win is Swarthmore's first-ever over Washington in Centennial Conference play - which dates back to 1995 - and its first win in the series since 1953.
Senior goalie Kevin Friedenberg was outstanding in net, making 17 saves - just one shy of his career high.
The win snaps a seven-game losing skid for the Garnet.
Josh Perlow led Washington with three goals.
Down 3-2 following a goal from Washington's Perlow at 13:01 mark , Swarthmore took control of the match, scoring six unanswered goals during a two-period stretch that may have marked the Garnet's best performance of the season.
Bradshaw got it started with his second goal of the contest at the 7:55 mark to tie the game 3-3. Less than two minutes later, Bukawyn found the back of the net following an excellent feed from Marcik to give the Swat a 4-3 lead. The Garnet added two more goals - both from Musynske - to give Swat a 6-3 lead heading into the lockerroom.
The Garnet remained hot in the second half, scoring the next two goals to take total command of the game. Marcik scored his second goal of the game at the 12:13 mark, while sophomore Max Hubbard scored a man-advantage goal with an assist from Pat Greene, giving Swat an 8-3 lead. Washington answered with Perlow's third goal to make it 8-4 game, but two more Garnet goals - from Bradshaw and Bukawyn - made it 10-4 Swat heading into the fourth period.
Washington did score three goals in the fourth period - aided by five Swarthmore penalties - but it wasn't enough as Swat hung on for the 11-7 win.
Junior Mark Czernyk played a crucial part in the Garnet's victory, winning a season-high 14 face-offs.
Bradshaw's four goals once again highlighted his breakout season. Now with 23 goals for the season, Bradshaw has surpassed his goal total for the 2009 season (21) and has the most goals by a Garnet individual since Tim Chryssikos in 2005 (26).
Swarthmore returns to action on Saturday against Christopher Newport from Stonewall Jackson High School (Va.). Action begins at 1:00 p.m.