Box Score HAVERFORD, Pa. – Senior Noah Sterngold scored his second goal of the season, but the Swarthmore College men's soccer team suffered a 2-1 loss to #15 Franklin & Marshall in a Centennial Conference semifinal match on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Haverford's historic Walton Field.

Franklin & Marshall (13-3-2) got on the board first of a very physical contest that featured 22 fouls and multiple cards issued between the teams. Following a Diplomat throw-in that came from the right side, Sam Lane headed home the ball to the low right corner of the net to give his team an early lead in the 13th minute.

Swarthmore, which outshot Franklin & Marshall 8-2 in the first half and 21-7 in the match, nearly scored in the 22nd minute off a corner kick. Sophomore Alec McClean fired a shot that got past junior goalkeeper TJ White and appeared to be headed to the low left corner of the net, but freshman Jeremy Levine blocked the ball at the last moment and cleared it away to keep the Diplomats ahead going into the break.

The Garnet remained in control at the beginning of the second half and was able to net the equalizer in the 51st minute when Sterngold converted a penalty kick. Senior Jake Weiner nearly headed in a go-ahead goal shortly afterwards off a Wyatt McCall corner kick, but his aim at the far post was once again cleared out by an F&M defender.

After recording a second team save on the defensive end, the Diplomats then came back the other way and capitalized on a free kick to eventually survive and advance. Freshman Connor Finn headed home a loose ball in the box to give F&M the lead.

Swarthmore continued to battle through the end and only allowed the Diplomats to attempt one more shot over the last 25 minutes while sending a barrage of attempts at White. With two minutes remaining, the Garnet made one final effort to tie the match and force overtime on a corner kick that was sent in by McCall. White, however, punched away a Billy Evers header, and senior Joe Keedy's attempt at the rebound sailed high.

Senior Peter Maxted made one save on seven opportunities in the losing effort for Swarthmore. White earned the victory for Franklin & Marshall by turning away six of the 21 shots he faced.

Swarthmore (9-5-4), which was making its eighth appearance in the league's postseason event, will now wait to see if it earns a bid to the ECAC Tournament.