Athletics News

SMITH BOX SCORE
MOUNT HOLYOKE BOX SCORE

SOUTH HADLEY, Ma. -  The Swarthmore volleyball team went 1-1 on the first day of competition at the 2006 Seven Sisters Championship hosted by Mount Holyoke Saturday morning. 

The Smith (Ma.) Pioneers (6-9) defeated the Garnet  3-0 in the first round by scores of 30-26, 30-23, and 30-20.  Garnet senior Erica George had a team-high 10 kills and added 10 digs while freshman setter Kearney Bangs registered 28 assists.  Sophomore libero Erin Heaney led the defense with 17 digs while classmate Jen Wang added seven kills and 11 digs.

Swarthmore rallied in the afternoon match, rolling past Mount Holyoke 3-0 by scores of 30-22, 30-17, 30-18.  The Garnet got strong performances from many different players - junior Katherine Gold had a hitting percentage of .363 with a team-high 10 kills and three blocks; junior opposite Vanessa Wells posted a hitting percentage of .438, tallying eight kills and also registered three blocks; George contributed nine kills, 10 digs, and four service aces.  Heaney added another 10 digs, Wang served four aces, junior middle blocker Karen Berk had a match-high five blocks, Bangs handed out 32 assists, and freshman Monica Joshi served in three aces of her own.

Swarthmore (11-7) will face the winner of the Elms/Bryn Mawr match on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Johns Hopkins junior Natalia Fjalkowski had a match-high 18 kills and 29 digs while teammate Allison Cappalaere added 16 kills to lead the visiting Blue Jays to a 3-2 Centennial victory over Swarthmore Wednesday night in Tarble Pavilion.

Johns Hopkins (11-9 overall, 2-1 CC) prevailed by scores of 26-30, 30-17, 30-23, 34-36, 15-13, defeating the Garnet (10-6 overall, 3-3 CC) for the 13th consecutive time.

Swarthmore was led by senior captain Erica George (12 kills) and junior middle blocker Karen Berk (10 kills, 12 blocks).  George was honored before the game for becoming the first Swarthmore volleyball player to amass 1,000 career kills on Sept. 19 at Washington.  Swarthmore Director of Athletics Adam Hertz and head coach Harleigh Leach presented George with the game ball from that special evening in Maryland.

Berk also passed the 300-career blocks mark, becoming the first Garnet player (15th in Centennial history) to accomplish the feat.  Berk now has 311 career blocks, a school record and 14th most in conference history.

The Blue Jays also got 15 kills and 13 digs from sophomore opposite Kim Jackanich and Adrienne Young contributed 14 kills and four blocks.  Hopkins setter Amanda Lewis collected 76 assists and added 13 digs while Lizzie Kay posted 41 digs for the Blue Jays.

Garnet sophomore libero Erin Heaney registered 31 digs and two service aces while junior opposite Vanessa Wells added 10 blocks for Swarthmore.

The Garnet travel to Massachusetts this weekend, taking part in the annual Seven Sisters Championship hosted this year by Mount Hoyoke on Oct. 7.

GAME BOX SCORE

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Ursinus midfielder Nicole Papp scored in the 71st minute to send the Ursinus Bears to a 1-0 victory over Swarthmore on a warm Wednesday evening on Clothier Field.

The match was a defensive struggle throughout, and both teams managed only two shots on goal.  The visitors finished with an 11-8 advantage in total shots.

The goal-scoring sequence began with a big throw-in from Bear defender Cori Turkowski from the left sideline into the midfield.  Papp received the ball with some space in front of her and launched the ball just out of the reach of Garnet goalkeeper Anna de Regt '09 from around 15 yards out with 19:24 to play.

Swarthmore rallied late but, with the Bears keeping a host of players in the defensive third, could not find enough space to get off a good shot.

The Bears (4-5, 2-3 CC) got two first-half saves in goal from Ashley Potter.  Lisa Clark played the second half in net and did not have to make a save.

Garnet senior Natalie Negrey and freshman Katie Kanuka tied for the team lead with two shots apiece.  De Regt made one save in goal.

Swarthmore (7-2-1, 3-2 CC) will look to rebound on Sat., October 7 when they travel to Baltimore, Md. for a 7:00 p.m. Centennial match with 11th-ranked Johns Hopkins.

Swarthmore head coach Renee Clarke met with her players before the start of the 2004 season, unveiling a plan to bring back successful Garnet softball.  "We are going to build our 'house' - giving our fans, alumni, and friends a place to live, bringing the program back to life," stated Clarke.

After spending two seasons laying the foundation and building the walls, the Garnet furnished their new digs in 2006, breaking the school record for wins (23-17) while collecting the school's first Centennial Conference softball playoff victory along the way. 

More records fell during the season, and along with it came various accolades for the Swarthmore softball players.  Freshman second baseman Christine Sendelsky (Edison, NJ) became the first Garnet softball player named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Region team, earning a second team selection, and also became the first freshman to make First Team All-Centennial.   Sendelsky started 16 conference games at second base, finishing the season tied for the Centennial lead in home runs (three), tied for second in runs scored (12), tied for fourth in RBIs (11) and total bases (29), and fifth in slugging percentage (.558).  Starting all 40 games in 2006, Sendelsky led the team in seven offensive categories: batting average (.395), hits (49), runs (40), doubles (13), home runs (four), total bases (78), and slugging percentage (.629).  Her four home runs tied the school record for the most in one season, matching the total hit by Michelle Walsh '98 and Mary Mintel '05.

Senior catcher Christina Procacci (Moorestown, NJ) joined Sendelsky on the Centennial first team, starting all 40 games behind the plate for Swarthmore in 2006.  Procacci set career-highs in hits (30), runs (24), RBIs (21), batting average (.300), and on-base percentage (.523), and walks (38).  She finished the season fourth in Division III in walks per game (0.95) and eighth in hit by pitch per game (0.24).  In 136 career games, Procacci drew 104 walks, placing her third all-time in Division III history.

Junior Kelly Siano (Fort Collins, CO) put together her best season in 2006, earning honorable mention on the All-CC team.  Siano also started all 16 conference games for the Garnet, anchoring the infield at first base while committing only two errors in 115 chances (.984 fielding percentage) in Centennial play.  Siano appeared in all 40 games in 2006, setting career-highs in batting average (.333), hits (39), runs (23), doubles (five), RBIs (17), slugging percentage (.427), on-base percentage (.391), and stolen bases (three).  She was second on the team, to Procacci (.987) in fielding percentage (.981), making only five miscues while handling 223 chances.

 The 2006 Swarthmore team was built on grit and determination, fostered during off-season workouts and a month-long pre-season in the field house.  But hard work and good intentions can only go so far, and the Garnet needed to fill a huge hole in the middle of the lineup created by the graduation of centerfielder Mintel (team leader in ten offensive categories in 2005, including a .324 batting average, .529 slugging percentage, and four home runs).  

The Garnet returned eight letter winners for the 2006 season, led by Procacci and junior right-hander Marianne Klingaman (Columbia, MD).  Procacci, a two-year starter, broke her own Centennial Conference record for walks (35) while leading the league in on-base percentage (.518) in 2005, prompting Clarke to shift her into the lead-off spot in the 2006 lineup.  Klingaman posted a staff-best 2.45 earned run average in 2005, winning five games including two complete-game shutouts (Muhlenberg 4/12, Widener 3/31). 

To open the season, Swarthmore traveled to Savannah, Georgia for the SmashHit Spring Break Tournament.  The Garnet went 3-3 on the week, barreling past Division I opponent Savannah State 11-1 and 11-3 on the final day as sophomore Emily Walz (Dayton, OH) tossed a two-hitter in the first game and Klingaman fanned 10 in the nightcap.  Sendelsky had five hits and drove in five runs against Savannah, leading the Garnet in batting average (.476, 10 for 21), slugging percentage (.762), hits (10), runs (six), doubles (four), and total bases (16) to earn Centennial Hitter of the Week honors on March 13. 

The Garnet returned to Philadelphia and ran off a 10-5 record against eight non-conference opponents, capped by a sweep at Alvernia on April 1.  Walz, Klingaman, and freshman Alexandra Zelaski (Middleburg Heights, OH) combined to hold the Crusaders to just four total runs and sophomore shortstop Katie Gold (Cherry Hill, NJ) had a pair of hits in each game as the Garnet swept Saturday's doubleheader, 10-2 and 4-2.  More accolades poured in for the Garnet:  Sendelsky became the first Swarthmore player to earn Conference honors twice in one season, hitting .750 (12-for-16) with four doubles, five RBIs, and seven runs in six games to be named Centennial Conference Co-Hitter of the Week and Co-ECAC Player of the Week on March 27.  Classmate Zelaski was also named the Centennial Pitcher of the Week and ECAC South Region Co-Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 3 - at that point in the season, Zelaski (7-2) boasted a 1.76 ERA (fourth in the Centennial), a team-high 59 strikeouts (also fourth in the Centennial), and 3.93 K/BB ratio.

Swarthmore entered the Centennial portion of the schedule with an overall record of 13-8, opening up at home with 2005 conference champion Ursinus and reigning Centennial Pitcher of the Year Mallory Greene.  Procacci delivered a game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to send the Garnet to a 2-1 victory in the opener.  The Garnet continued on a strong run through the Centennial, sweeping Dickinson on April 8 and then freshman outfielder Kristin Caspar (Briarcliff Manor, NY) delivered the game-winning run with a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning to send Swarthmore to a 7-6 win over Gettysburg on April 15. 

Swarthmore's win in game two was the 17th of the season, breaking the 18-year old school record set by the 1988 squad (16-6).  The Garnet also put to bed an 11-game skid to the Bullets, dating back to a 4-3 Swarthmore win in 2000. Klingaman was the story of game two, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs.  It was the first career home run for Klingaman in just her sixth at bat of the season.  The two-run shot in the fifth gave Swarthmore its first lead of the game at 6-4.  Klingaman had taken the mound in relief in the top of the inning and pitched three innings to earn her fourth win of the season.  Siano also had a good game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs.

The Garnet swept a pair of Centennial twinbills with Washington (Md.) and Franklin & Marshall, putting the team in position to claim a conference playoff berth with a split at McDaniel on April 30.  Swarthmore was in a tough spot: the Green Terror had a streak of 13 consecutive playoff appearances and had not lost to the Garnet since 1983.  McDaniel won the first game 5-0, forcing Swarthmore into a win-or-go-home spot in game two.  Siano ripped a clutch two-out two-run single to fuel a four-run sixth inning as the Garnet defeated McDaniel 5-3 in the second game, earning the Swarthmore women the No. 3 seed in the Centennial Conference Championships at Haverford on May 6.

The Garnet faced Ursinus and Greene in the opening round, falling 7-3 despite three hits from sophomore Dhalia Perez (Fairfield, CT).  Swarthmore faced McDaniel in the afternoon, staving off elimination with an 8-4 victory.  Gold was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored while senior Danielle Miller (Pittsburgh, PA) added two runs, a hit, and d
rove in a run.  Zelaski (11-5) picked up the win, spreading nine hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out two batters.  On day two of the championship, Swarthmore was eliminated from the double elimination tournament by Ursinus, falling 4-1 as Siano and freshman centerfielder Lauren Walker (Fallston, MD) led the Garnet with two hits.  Siano tallied the lone run for Swarthmore, coming on her second home of the season, a solo shot in the fourth inning.  It was the 10th four-bagger hit by Swarthmore this season, easily breaking the school record set in 1998 and matched in 2005.

The Swarthmore softball house is furnished and ready to accommodate all those looking to make a run at the Centennial Conference title in 2007; 11 letter-winners return next season, including the top four hitters in the lineup and the entire pitching staff.  Just be sure to wipe your feet before you come in!
    

GAME BOX SCORE

CHESTER, Pa. - Swarthmore junior Darren Johnson scored his first career goal as the Garnet battled Widener to a 1-1 draw in non-conference men's soccer action Tuesday night.

An even game throughout, the scoreboard still showed zeroes after the first 45 minutes.

The Pioneers (4-5-2 overall) broke the scoring drought at 65;23 when Widener's William James finished off a corner for his sixth score of the season.

Swarthmore wasted little time tying the score - the score also coming off a corner.  Swarthmore junior midfielder J.P. Faunes bent the offering into the box at Johnson.  The ball deflected away from Johnson and then bounded off a Pioneer defender right back to Johnson.  The Garnet junior deposited the ball into the back of the net at 69:50 for his first collegiate score.

The Garnet (6-3-1 overall) held an advantage in corner kicks 10-4  but the shot department, like the game itself, was knotted at 15 apiece.

Swarthmore resumes Centennial action on Saturday, Oct. 7 when defending conference champion Muhlenberg comes to Clothier Field for a 7:00 p.m. game.

GAME BOX SCORE

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore senior captain Summer Spicer scored two goals, including the game-winner with 1:00 left in the first overtime, leading the Garnet to a 3-2 upset victory over 19th-ranked Johns Hopkins in Centennial Conference field hockey action Tuesday evening on Clothier Field.

It is the second time in three years Swarthmore has downed the Blue Jays following a seven-game win streak by Johns Hopkins from 1998-2003.

Swarthmore (8-3 overall, 3-1 Centennial) drew first blood, scoring just 1:27 into the game.  Spicer took at free hit just outside the circle and junior Abigail Fischer tipped the ball into the right side of the cage for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.

The Blue Jays (6-5 overall, 2-1 Centennial) answered back with a goal at 12:35 on a penalty corner.  JHU defender Amy Soergel played the corner to the top of the circle and the Blue Jays worked the ball around to the right side.  Sophomore forward Katie Wong struck a shot towards the Garnet goal and classmate Adair Landy tipped it home to knot the score at 1-1.

The Garnet re-took the lead at the end of the first half, successfully converting a penalty corner.  Sophomore midfielder Ashley Gunter played the ball to the top of the circle where Spicer smoked a blast past JHU goalie Dayna Eng at 33:16.  It is Spicer's third score of the season.

The Blue Jays held a 5-3 shot advantage at half and took more penalty corners as well (10-3).

Hopkins evened the score again in the 46th minute, converting another penalty corner.  Junior Sarah Bender controlled the pass from Leah Horton, pushing the ball back against the grain to sophomore forward Emily Miller.  Miller gathered the ball and fired the ball at the Swarthmore goal where teammate Leah Horton tipped it home.

The score remained knotted at 2-2 as the teams headed to overtime.  The Blue Jays out-shot the Garnet 19-4 in regulation and attempted 21 corners to Swarthmore's four.

Eng made a big save, five minutes into the overtime, denying Spicer's blast on a penalty corner.  The Blue Jays controlled play for much of the extra period, testing the Swarthmore backline of Anna Baeth '09 and Julie Monaghan '07.  The Garnet got their break when Monaghan sent a clear through the midfield onto the stick of Fischer, who raced up the field and was tripped by a JHU defender at the circle.  Monaghan played the ensuing penalty corner out to Spicer, who side-stepped a charging Blue Jay defender and let loose a rocket into the left side of the cage at 89:00.  It is the first game-winner of the season for Spicer (third of her career) and her fourth goal of 2006.

The Blue Jays had a 7-2 edge in shots in the extra period while the corners were even at two apiece.

Lorang made seven saves for her fifth win of the season while Eng posted two saves for the Blue Jays.

Swarthmore, tied for second place in the conference with McDaniel, returns to action at 12:00 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 7 when the Garnet travel to Chestertown, Md. to take on Washington College in Centennial Conference action.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

Swarthmore women's soccer 2006 season continues on a positive note following a 4-1 Centennial road win at Washington College on Sept. 30  The win helped propel the Garnet one step closer to one of its pre-season goals, earning national recognition  with a D3Kicks.com National Computerized top 25 ranking - (21st as of Oct. 3).

The win over the Shorewomen came on the back of a big game by senior forward Natalie Negrey (two goals and an assist), another game winner by freshman Katie Kanuka, and strong play in the midfield by frosh Liz Lopez.  It was the first time Swarthmore downed Washington in three years.

The Garnet rank first in the Centennial with a goals against average of 0.54, sit in a tie for tops with six shutouts, and list third in goals scored (18).  Swarthmore is currently 7-1-1 overall and 3-1 in the Centennial, the best nine-game start to a season in school history.

 Swarthmore faces a strong test tomorrow against conference opponent, Ursinus, right here at Clothier Field at 7:00 p.m.

LANCASTER, Pa. - Swarthmore senior field hockey goalie Karen Lorang (pictured) was named Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 2.

Lorang, an economics major, earns the award for the second time this season after making three saves in a 1-0 Swarthmore win over Dickinson on Sept. 30 - her first shut-out of the season and the fourth of her career.  Lorang ranks third in the Centennial with a 1.46 goals against average and is tied for first with a .806 save percentage.

Lorang, a senior captain, is involved in many facets of Swarthmore College: she is a Resident Advisor, assists fellow students as a Writing Associate, serves as the Student Groups Advisor on the Student Council, and is a teaching assistant in the Dept. of Economics.

Swarthmore (7-3 overall, 2-1 Centennial) is off to the best 10-game start since 1998 and will host Johns Hopkins on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m.

TOURNAMENT WEB SITE

SALISBURY, Md. - Swarthmore senior Jon Reiss won both singles' matches to advance to the round of 16 at the Wilson/ITA Men's Atlantic South Regional hosted by Salisbury State on Saturday afternoon.

Reiss, the third-seeded singles' player in the Main Singles Draw, easily defeated Chris Covey from Goucher 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and then rallied down a set to dispatch John Moyer from Grove City 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the round of 32.  Reiss will face Nat Estes from Washington & Lee on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. in the round of 16.

Garnet senior Sam Sidhu fell to Evan E. Thomas from Salisbury 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in the opening round, but came back with an 8-3 win over Jason Dunn of Mary Washington in the consolation bracket. 

Swarthmore sophomore J.J. England won his two matches in the 'B' singles draw, downing Ryan Knarr from Elizabethtown 6-2, 6-0 in the first round and Duff O'Connor from Cabrini 6-0, 6-1.  England will face Peter Davis from Grove City on Sunday morning in the round of 16.

All three Garnet doubles entries fell in the first round, but Sidhu and partner Kevin Shaughnessy '09 took down Ryan Radke and Brian Remsch from Bridgewater 8-2 in the consolation bracket while England '09 and Will Nolan '10 advanced by default.