Garnet Women Rally for Crucial 2-1 Win Over Dickinson
CARLISLE, Pa. - With its back against the ropes, the Swarthmore College women's soccer team responded with a huge victory in its Conference opener.
Junior Emily Coleman scored the game-winner in the 77th minute on a counter-attack while sophomore Alexa Ross tied the game in the first half with her first career goal, as the Garnet (2-2, 1-0) traveled into hostile territory and defeated Centennial Conference-nemesis Dickinson 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
Ross earned her first career point in the win.
The important victory over the Red Devils - the same team that knocked the Garnet out of the Centennial playoffs in penalty kicks last season - snaps a two-game losing skid and puts the squad in prime position once again to make a run at the Centennial title.
The Red Devils (1-1-1) struck first in the game, as Samantha Friday scored off a Hannah Richardson assist in the 34th minute, giving the Red Devils a 1-0 lead.
In the 43th minute, the Garnet - who had gone 260 minutes without a goal - finally found the back of the net, as Ross scored the first goal of her collegiate career to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the half. Senior Megan Colombo assisted on Ross' goal.
Then in the 77th minute, Swarthmore used the counter-attack to perfection to set up the game-winner. As Dickinson peppered the Garnet goal, the defense stood tall and eventually took possession. Moving with numbers down the length of the field, senior Hannah Purkey fed the ball to Coleman, who put the ball into the back of the net, giving the Garnet a 2-1 lead that it would never relinquish.
In goal for the Garnet, junior Marie Mutryn made a season-high nine saves.
Swarthmore returns to action this Wednesday when it travels to No. 2 TCNJ. Action begins at 7:00 p.m.