Athletics News

It was a magical run for the Swarthmore men’s soccer team in 2008. In the program’s best season in 25 years, the Garnet captured the program’s first Centennial Conference Championship, advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship after making the program’s first appearance in the tournament since 1991, and set program records for Conference victories (8) and longest unbeaten streak (13). The team also spent nearly the entire season in the national rankings.

But that was last season. This is a new season – and despite being tabbed as the preseason favorite by the Centennial Conference coaches - nothing will come easy for the Garnet in their quest to defend the Conference championship. Success will once again need to be earned by hard work and determination on the pitch.

The Garnet face several challenges in 2009. The first will be figuring out how to replace eight letterwinners from the 2008 squad, including All-American defender Jeff Kushner and first-team All-Conference performer Evan Nesterak. The team will also need to navigate one of the most difficult schedules in all of Division III men’s soccer, highlighted by home games against national power Stevens Tech (September 13) and conference rivals Johns Hopkins (September 19) and Gettysburg (October 3).

Dylan Langley was an All-Centennial selection in 2008.

On the offensive end, senior midfielder Dylan Langley (Honolulu, Hawaii / Iolani School) is expected to lead the charge. Last season, the second-team All-Conference midfielder helped fuel the Conference’s best offense with seven goals and five assists while finishing third in the Centennial in points (nineteen). But with the departure of seniors Nesterak and Ladulé Lako Lo Sarah – two of the team’s top scorers with a combined 13 goals – even more will be expected from Langley in 2009. Help could come in the form of his brother – Morgan Langley. The younger Langley (Honolulu, Hawaii / Iolani School) is a junior forward and the other half of the Conference’s first pair of male siblings to make the All-Centennial team at the same time. Last season, he played a significant part of the Swarthmore attack, leading the Conference in assists and already ranking 8th all-time in career assists (10) at the College.

Traditionally one of stingiest defenses in all of Division III men’s soccer – allowing just 10 goals and posting nine shutouts in 2008 – the 2009 Garnet defense will look to junior Gage Newman (Cambridge, Mass./Buckingham Browne & Nicholas) and sophomore Pierre Dyer (Bethesda, Md./French International School) to anchor the backline. The duo combined for 29 starts in 2008 and both were integral parts of the squad’s record-setting season.

Between the pipes, junior Zach Weimar (Rutledge, Penn. – Friends Central) and sophomore David D’Annunzio (Piedmont, Calif. – Piedmont) will look to build off their outstanding performances in 2009. Before a broken wrist ended his season, Weimar was ranked fourth in the nation in goals against average (0.20). Last season, D’Annunzio posted nine shutouts in 16 starts while posting a 0.55 goals against average.

The Garnet open the season on Wednesday, September 2, when they travel to Penn State-Abington. The Garnet then open at home with the 12th Annual Garnet Alumni Classic, when they face Wesley College on Saturday, September 5 (7:00 p.m.) and Catholic University on Sunday, September 6 (5:00 p.m.).

Despite the loss of five seniors from last year’s squad, the Swarthmore College field hockey team has plenty of reasons to be optimistic heading into the 2009 season. All of the optimism stems from a productive offseason that saw the Garnet develop a dynamic new offensive attack while stressing more emphasis on improving defensive fundamentals. Combine that with a talented class of newcomers, and all the ingredients are in place for the 2009 Garnet field hockey team to rebound from last season’s 5-13 record and compete for a berth in the Centennial Conference championships.

The challenge for second-year coach Lauren Fuchs will be quickly developing team chemistry amongst a squad that will consist of several upperclassmen and many talented freshmen. With the loss of five seniors – including the team’s leading scoring and several key defensive players – veterans will need to step into leadership roles right away while the newcomers will need to contribute from the opening game.

Young is the Garnet's top returning scorer in 2009.

Following a breakout junior season, Joslyn Young ’10 is expected to lead the offensive attack for the Garnet in 2009. Last season, the midfielder finished second on the team in goals (seven) and points (15), highlighted by a career-best four goals against Arcadia. Young will pair up with fellow tri-captain Sophia Ferguson ’10 – who finished third on the team in goals (4), points (11) and assists (3) in 2008 – to lead a newly developed offensive attack that will aim to be more balanced against stingy Centennial Conference defenses.

Senior captain Gina Grubb ’10 and Katie Ashmore ’11 are expected to be the anchors of a Garnet defense that lost several key contributors to graduation. The duo has already stepped up their performance and leadership during offseason workouts, helping the team focus on improving overall defensive skill and increasing the vocal communication on the field.

Off the field, the Garnet will also look to remain one of the most successful athletic programs in the classroom in 2009. Last spring, nine players from the 2008 squad were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Academic Squad, while the team was honored for earning the highest team grade point average in all of Division III field hockey.

LANCASTER, Pa. - Coming off its first Centennial Conference championship in program history, the No. 13 Swarthmore men's soccer team has been picked to defend the title in 2009.

In a vote by the conference's head coaches, the Garnet are tabbed to finish first in the Conference, receiving four first-place votes and a total of 72 points. The Garnet edged out 2008 Centennial Conference runners-up Johns Hopkins, who was picked to finish second with four first place votes and a total of 70 points.

Dickinson is picked to finish third with 64 points while receiving one first place vote. Gettysburg was tabbed fourth, picking up one first-place vote and a total of 59 points Muhlenberg rounds out the top five with 54 points.

Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Eric Wagner, the 2009 Garnet return several key performers from last year’s squad, including All-Centennial Conference performers Dylan and Morgan Langley. Last season, the Garnet captured the program’s first Centennial Conference championship, advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship after making the program's first appearance in the tournament since 1991 and set program records for Conference victories (8) and longest unbeaten streak (13).

The Garnet open the season on Wednesday, September 2, with a non-conference match at Penn State-Abington. The team will then return home to host the 12th Annual Garnet Alumni Classic the weekend of September 5-6

COMPLETE POLL

SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The reigning Centennial Conference champion Swarthmore men's soccer team will enter the 2009 season ranked No.13 in the NSCAA Division III Preseason Poll, the association announced on Tuesday.

The Garnet - coming off the program's most successful season in 25 years – is one of two Centennial Conference teams ranked in poll; Johns Hopkins – who the Garnet defeated in the 2008 Centennial Conference championship game - is ranked No. 16.

Along with Hopkins (home September 19), 2009 Garnet opponents No. 2 Stevens Tech (home September 13) and No. 20 Richard Stockton (away October 7) can be found in the NSCAA Division III Preseason Poll.

Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Eric Wagner, the 2009 Garnet return several key performers from last year’s squad, including All-Centennial Conference performers Dylan and Morgan Langley. Last season, the Garnet captured the program’s first Centennial Conference championship, advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship after making the program's first appearance in the tournament since 1991 and set program records for Conference victories (8) and longest unbeaten streak (13).

The Garnet open the season on Wednesday, September 2, with a non-conference match at Penn State-Abington. The team will then return home to host the 12th Annual Garnet Alumni Classic the weekend of September 5-6.

NSCAA Division III Preseason Poll

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore Department of Athletics is proud to announce that Garnet fans can now follow their favorite teams and get up-to-the-minute news through social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

All Swarthmore  fans are encouraged to bookmark each page as a way to receive the latest updates regarding scores and scheduling and to stay connected with other Garnet fans.

Swarthmore Athletics on Facebook

Swarthmore Athletics on Twitter

Swarthmore Athletics on Flickr

Swarthmore Athletics on YouTube: Coming Fall 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - Swarthmore College senior Caitlin Mullarkey has been selected as the Centennial Conference's  representative for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Mullarkey is one of 132 women to be nominated for the award, with selections coming from all three NCAA divisions and multiple sports.

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PHILADELPHIA - Swarthmore College senior Caitlin Mullarkey '09 was named the 2008-09 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Female Performer of the Year, as voted on by the sports information offices of the 28 institutions from the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Junior women’s tennis player Rachel Wallwork '10 was also honored as the Women's Tennis All-Area Performer of the Year, senior golfer David Lau '09 earned a spot on the Men’s Golf Academic All-Area Team and Mullarkey was also honored as the Women's Track & Field Performer of the Year.  

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SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Swarthmore College has named Mark Anskis Director of Sports Information.

Anskis, who worked as a graduate assistant in the Temple University Sports Media Relations Office the past two years, will be responsible for the promotion and statistical management of the College's 22 Division III varsity sports. He will also serve as a liaison between the Swarthmore College Department of Athletics and the local and national media through the College's Web site, publications, press releases and new media technologies.

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SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Swarthmore senior Cait Mullarkey was selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II cross-country/track & field team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Mullarkey is a first-team selection and will move onto the national ballot. Read the rest of this entry »