Athletics News

GAME BOX SCORE

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore sophomore forward Evan Nesterak (pictured) put home his second game-winner in five days, as the Garnet (4-1) defeated St. Mary's (Md) 1-0 in non-conference soccer action at Clothier Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams played an even first half, with the teams each getting off six shots.

The lone tally of the day came when Swarthmore junior captain Pat Christmas sent a long ball down the left side, run down by sophomore midfielder Christopher Szeto.  Szeto took one touch and crossed the ball to the top of the box where Nesterak let rip a shot into the lower left corner at 70:52, giving the Garnet a 1-0 lead.  It is Nesterak's second goal in as many games, and third of the season.

Garnet starting goalkeeper Ryan Sutcliffe '08 made three saves in the first 45:00 minutes while backup Zach Weimar '10 collected three saves of his own in the second half.  Seahawks netminder Tim Carrier, a late-minute replacement for usual starter Rick Besore, totaled four saves for St. Mary's (1-3).

The win over the Seahawks was especially gratifying for current Garnet head coach Eric Wagner, who was at the helm of St. Mary's for five seasons (Wagner still holds the program mark with 49 victories).

Swarthmore will open Centennial action this Saturday, Sept. 16, traveling to Dickinson College for a 12:00 p.m. game.

GAME BOX SCORE

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Garnet outside hitter Jen Wang '09 and Erica George '07 posted double-doubles as Swarthmore won their third consecutive five-set game, this time edging Ursinus 3-2 (30-28, 25-30, 23-30, 30-17, 17-15) in thrilling Centennial Conference volleyball action at Tarble Pavilion on a cool Tuesday evening.

 Wang had a season-high 18 kills while also leading the team with 25 digs for her second double-double of the young season.  George, a senior captain, added 12 kills and 17 digs for her third consecutive double-double of the year.  Both Wang and George also added four service aces.

Sophomore libero Erin Heaney aided the Swarthmore defense with 19 digs while freshman outside hitter Johanna Bond collected 13 digs.  Freshman setter Kearney Bangs set up the Garnet offense with 53 assists - her third straight game with over 45 assists.  Swarthmore middle blocker Karen Berk '08 posted a solid all-around effort, registering nine blocks, five kills, five digs, and four aces.  Classmate Katherine Gold, a middle blocker, helped the Garnet control the middle part of the court, with nine kills and four service aces.

The Bears (1-3 overall, 0-2), under first-year head coach Diana McNamee - a former Swarthmore assistant coach - were led by junior middle hitter Jill Alspach (16 kills, 10 digs, two aces) and senior setter Melissa George (seven kills, 10 digs, 36 assists).  Ursinus also got strong efforts from sophomore outside hitter MacKenzie Miller (12 kills) and sophomore opposite Kelly Hosier (nine kills).

Swarthmore will now gear up for the fourth annual Garnet Classic this coming weekend - the Garnet will open the tournament against Kings Point at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15 in Tarble Pavilion.

GAME BOX SCORE

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore controlled play early and late,  rolling to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Biblical University Crimson Eagles on Tuesday night at Clothier Stadium.  Sophomores Melinda Petre and Anna de Regt, and freshman Julia Luongo all notched their first goals of the young season as the Garnet improved to 3-0-1.

Swarthmore controlled play early, creating several opportunities, but did not break through until the 16th minute.  Philadelphia Bible goalkeeper Laura Wronski mis-hit a punt, hitting the back of one of her defenders, and in the confusion, Garnet senior midfielder Kasie Groom took control of the ball.  Groom hit forward Katie Kanuka '10, who was streaking up the right side.  Kanuka took the pass, paused, patiently weaved her way by two defenders, and finally hit a curving shot across the goal mouth, past Wronski, and into the left side of the net.

The Garnet struck again in the 41st minute and for the first time all year, it wasn't Kanuka doing the scoring.  Taking the offensive reins was Petre, who accepted a pretty pass from Groom about 12 yards from the net and unleashed a left-footed bomb into the back of the net with 4:47 remaining in the half.  The 2-0 margin persisted into the break. 

Swarthmore held a 17-1 shot advantage in the opening period.

Swarthmore continued to get frequent shots early in the second period and finally added a third goal midway through the period.  Natalie Negrey '07 took a corner kick and lofted the ball out close to the 18-yard line.  Luongo, who had been left wide open as the Crimson Eagle defenders bunched around the goal line, trapped the ball before blasting it through traffic and into the net.

Negrey nearly added a goal of her own in the 79th minute, but PBU backup goalie Melissa Landis went horizontal to make a diving save.  Minutes later, though, Landis could do nothing to stop de Regt from hitting a high, looping ball from near the endline into the side of the net, closing out the scoring.

The Garnet finished with a 41-2 advantage in shots and took all of the game's 13 corner kicks. 

Walker, named Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Mid-Atlantic Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this week, did not have to make her save on the way to her second consecutive shutout (third of the season); the sophomore goalie extended her scoreless streak to 233:31.

Wronski made seven saves in the first half while Landis collected six saves for the Crimson Eagles (2-3).

The Garnet will look to carry their early-season momentum into the Centennial Conference season when they travel to Lancaster, Pa. to face Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 12:00 p.m.

ECAC LISTING

Swarthmore, PA - Swarthmore College goalkeeper Lauren Walker (Fallston, MD / The Hotchkiss School) was named Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Mid-Atlantic Goalkeeper of the Week for the week of September 11.

Walker tallied her second shut-out of the season in a 0-0 2OT tie vs. Widener on Sept. 9.  Walker made eight saves, including a dramatic one-hander in the final minutes of the second overtime, to extend her scoreless streak to 143:31.

Walker is the third Swarthmore athlete to receive recognition from the Centennial as top defensive player of the week; Garnet field hockey goalie Karen Lorang '07 and Swarthmore men's soccer goalkeeper Ryan Sutcliffe '08 were selected on Sept. 5.

Swarthmore, following a 0-0 double overtime non-conference tie with Widener on Saturday evening, stands at 2-0-1 overall.

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Garnet freshman Rachel Wallwork (pictured)won both of her singles' matches in the first day of competition at the 2006 Swarthmore Invitational on Saturday morning against the University of Delaware.

Wallwork defeated UD's Brittany Barsky 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 in her first round match and then easily dispatched Kristen Mueller 6-2, 6-1 in round two.

Swarthmore's No. 1 singles' player, senior Sonya Reynolds, also won her second round pairing, cruising past Sari Shuster 6-1, 6-3.  Reynolds also won her morning doubles' match with classmate Sara Sargent 9-7 over Alexa Dragonette and Julie Schiller.

GAME BOX SCORE

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Garnet goalkeeper Lauren Walker '09 (pictured) made her biggest save of the night late in the second overtime to preserve a 0-0 tie with the visiting Widener Pioneers on a warm Saturday evening at Clothier Field.

A crowd of 155, including a large contingent of young women celebrating Youth Soccer Month, watched as the Pioneers (2-0-1) and the Garnet (2-0-1) battled through a evenly-played match for 110 minutes.  Swarthmore held a slight shot edge (14-12) when all was said and done, with each team attempting three corner kicks.

The Pioneers almost stole a victory in the final minutes of the second overtime - sophomore forward Kim Sharpless volleyed a rebound shot towards the top of the net only to see Walker make a lunging stab, pushing the ball aside to preserve the scoreless affair.

Walker and Widener counterpart Katti Quinn each registered eight saves on the night.

Swarthmore returns to Clothier Field on Tuesday, Sept. 12, hosting Philadelphia Bible in non-conference soccer action at 7:00 p.m.

COMPLETE LIST OF TIMES

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Garnet cross country alums (pictured) turned out in force for the 32nd Swarthmore Alumni/Alumnae Meet with two-time All-American Marc Jeuland '01 winning the men's title and recent grads Carrie Ritter '06 and Emily Wistar '06 claiming the top spot for the women.  The undergraduates stuck to a solid game plan of running in packs and outscored the alums to claim both the men's and women's team titles.

Jeuland covered the 5K course in a time of 17:45, followed in by James Golden '05 with a time of 18:14.  The male undergraduates took the six spots with identical times of 18:15, crossing the finish line arm in arm to secure a 25-36 point advantage over the alumni.

Ritter and Wistar passed undergrads Emma Stanley '09 and Nyika Corbett '10 in the last 1000 feet to finish in a time of 20:45.  The pack of Kathy Feeney '09, Faith Pampel '09, and Erin Ronhovde '10 crossed with identical times of 22:46, setting up the undergraduates score of 25 to the alums' 36 points.

Several notable Swarthmore alums took part in the race, including Rich Slattery '80 who ran in the event for the 28th time.

The Garnet varsity will hit the trails next on Sept. 21 when they travel to Haverford for a 5:30 p.m. race.

GAME BOX SCORE

NEWARK, Nj. - Swarthmore senior outside hitter Erica George (pictured) tallied a game-high 17 kills and 22 digs while junior middle blocker Katherine Gold added 12 kills as the Garnet defeated Rutgers-Newark 3-2 (30-25, 30-22, 28-30, 29-31, 15-11) in non-conference volleyball action on Saturday afternoon.

The Garnet (4-2) earned a piece of revenge on Saturday afternoon, as the Scarlet Knights had rolled past Swarthmore 3-0 in pool play at the Greyhound Premiere Invitational on Sept. 1.

Swarthmore freshman Kearney Bangs continued her stellar play at the setter position, handing out 46 assists while sophomores Jen Wang (27 digs) and Erin Heaney (22 digs) led the defense.  Junior middle blocker Karen Berk added to her school record for blocks by collecting six on the day. 

The Garnet return to Tarble Pavilion on Tuesday, Sept. 12, opening Centennial Conference play against the Ursinus Bears at 7:00 p.m.

GAME BOX SCORE

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Garnet midfielders Natalie Stone '09 (pictured) and Ashley Gunter '09 scored three goals apiece as Swarthmore rolled to an 11-0 victory over the College of Notre Dame in non-conference field hockey action at Clothier Field on Saturday afternoon. 

The 11 goals is the most by a Swarthmore field hockey team since an 11-0 victory Elms in the first round of the 1998 Seven Sisters Championship at Wellesley College.  It is the most goals scored at home since a 13-1 defeat of Bryn Mawr in 1994.

A familiar combination put Swarthmore up 1-0 in the early going.  Senior midfielder Lindsay Roth crossed a pass through the goal mouth and junior forward Abigail Fischer one-timed the ball into the cage for her team-leading fourth goal of the young season.

Gunter put in back to back scores, the latter coming on a deflection from an outside blast by senior captain Summer Spicer.at 6:16.  Roth put in her first goal of the season at 10:18, followed 37 seconds later by Gunter's third goal (from Fischer).  The three scores establish a new career-high for Gunter.

Swarthmore took a 5-0 lead into halftime, and following the intermission, became very liberal with substitutions; every position player on the roster saw considerable playing time.

The Garnet continued to pour in goals in the second half, getting scores from senior midfielder Julia Morrison, freshman forward Abbe Muller, freshman forward Hoa Pham, and three from Stone.  Muller and Pham both got their first collegiate scores while Stone converted her first career hat-trick.  Freshman defender Joslyn Young also collected two assists on the day, the first points of her college career.

Swarthmore senior goalie Karen Lorang did not face a shot in the first half and replacement Gina Grubb, a freshman, made her first save in the final 35 minutes of action.

Swarthmore enjoyed a 37-1 shot advantage, taking 12 corners to none for the Gators.

Swarthmore will host the annual Seven Sisters Field Hockey Championships this coming weekend, Sept. 16-17.  The Garnet will compete against Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Haverford, Wellesley, Wheaton (Ma.), and Vassar in a two-day tournament for the championship trophy.  The first games start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.

GAME BOX SCORE

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (story courtesy Vassar SID) --  Despite two game-tying goals by Vassar senior Court Steiner,  Swarthmore men's soccer team prevailed in an important non-conference road game on Saturday afternoon.  Thanks to an overtime goal by sophomore Evan Nesterak, the Garnet defeated host Vassar, 3-2 in overtime at Prentiss Field.

A long throw-in by Garnet senior back Duncan Gromko set up the winning play, as junior Andrew Macurdy flicked the ball to Nesterak who fired a low shot into the left corner with 2:04 to play in the first overtime period.

The Brewers fall to 1-1 and travel to Mt. St. Mary's College on Wednesday evening while Swarthmore improves to 3-0 with the victory and host St. Mary's on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m..

The Garnet (3-1) found the back of the net 31 seconds into the game as junior midfielder J.P. Faunes  volleyed a rebound just under the crossbar. Although Swarthmore controlled the play early on, Vassar keeper Jason Cetel made some tough saves to keep his team within striking range, including turning away Swarthmore sophomore Yoi Tibbetts on a one-on-one breakaway.

Steiner knocked in his first game-tying goal with 11:07 to play in the first half, assisted by fellow senior captain Adam Marsh.  Freshman Brian Bianchetti served a ball into the box from midfield and Marsh flicked it to Steiner who was able to poke the ball past Swarthmore keeper Ryan Sutcliffe.

The Garnet regained the lead less than three minutes into the second half on junior captain Brendan Grady's perfectly placed direct kick to a cutting Ladulé Lako Lo Sarah, who nailed a header past Cetel.  It is the first goal of Lo Sarah's collegiate career.

Steiner and the Brewers again responded, as sophomore Danny Kadishson hooked up with Steiner to mirror the previous Swarthmore goal. From midfield, Kadishson sent a ball into the box where Steiner knocked a diving header into the left corner netting. Senior Jo DelVecchio almost gave the Brewers the lead with 1:10 to play, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

Swarthmore out-shot Vassar 18-8, the crucial difference being a 4-0 shot advantage in overtime. Cetel had seven saves for the Brewers. Starting Garnet goalie Sutcliffe recorded one save while freshman Zach Weimar stopped three shots in the second half and overtime to preserve the win.