Box Score SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Senior Elyse Tierney scored five goals, including the eventual game-winning tally late in the second half, to lead the Swarthmore College women's lacrosse team to a thrilling 12-11 triumph over Drew on Monday, March 30 at Clothier Field. The Garnet recorded a one-goal victory over the Rangers at home for the third straight season.
Swarthmore, which trailed by three goals with under 21 minutes left to play, got an unassisted marker from Tierney with 5:12 left to play to take a 12-10 lead before Drew's Morgan Mason sliced the lead in half by netting her fourth goal of the game with 1:34 to play. The Garnet won the ensuing draw and attempted to run out the clock, but high pressure defense by the visitors forced an errant pass and a turnover.
The Rangers successfully cleared the ball and put it in the stick of Mason, who charged through the Garnet defense with her eyes set on netting the equalizer to force overtime in the waning seconds. The sophomore, however, was called for a violation and the Garnet were able to play keep away in their defensive third until the clock ran out.
The first half was competitive and was knotted at 3-all when Tierney scored her 30th goal of the season at the 12:45 mark, but the Rangers fought back and scored four straight to take the lead. Mason found the back of the net on a free position shot to cap the run with 5:08 on the clock, and the Rangers eventually carried a three-goal advantage into the recess.
Swarthmore started the second half strong, as
Lizzie Kolln scored on a free position attempt to cut the Ranger lead to 8-6. Freshman
Kathryn Restrepo then appeared to make it a one-possession game when she beat Ranger goalkeeper Gianna Minogue on a free position attempt, but the goal was called back because she stepped in the crease.
But after Drew scored on the other end to extend the margin back to three goals, Swarthmore netted two straight and six of the next seven to regain the lead for the first time since the midway point of the second half. Unassisted markers by leading scorers Restrepo and Tierney down the stretch were enough for the Garnet to survive and win their fifth straight game.
Junior
Connie Bowen picked up her sixth win of the season for Swarthmore by making eight saves. Minogue suffered the loss for Drew (4-3) after turning away 10 shots. The Garnet had a 30-28 advantage in total shots, a 19-17 edge in ground balls and won 18 draw controls.
In addition to Tierney's five-goal performance, the Garnet also got notable contributions from senior
Sara Lentricchia and junior
Elizabeth Upton. Both players tallied two goals and one assist, while Upton also scooped up four ground balls and caused two turnovers.
Swarthmore (6-2) resumes Centennial Conference play when it visits McDaniel on Wednesday, Apr. 1 at 7 p.m.
