AMHERST, Mass.—Swarthmore College Women's Soccer's 2016 season concluded in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon. The Garnet wrap the year with a 15-4 record (.789 win percentage), the third-best mark in program history.
The Garnet fell to No. 13 Amherst College on Saturday 4-2. Swarthmore trailed by four in the first half, but stayed in the game with a tally just before halftime and a second one in the 68th minute.
Claire O'Brien put Swarthmore on the board with 1:06 remaining in the first half.
Izzy Branco-Lo forced an Amherst turnover near midfield and sent a pass to O'Brien on the right wing. O'Brien shook her defender and cut inside, firing off a shot to the far back post that beat the diving goalkeeper.
Swarthmore kept the intensity up throughout the second half, taking 10 shots, four on goal. The Garnet finished with 10 shots on target and 19 total attempts. Amherst finished with 23 attempts, 11 on goal.
The Garnet earned a penalty kick at the end of the 68th minute when
Marin McCoy had her ankles clipped in the left of the box. It was the second straight game McCoy drew a penalty kick. The PK duty went to
Sarah Hancock who delivered a solid kick to the left of the goal for the score.
Despite gaining ground, Swarthmore couldn't close the gap and fell 4-2. Amherst had scored in the 6th, 19th, 25th and 27th minutes. Hannah Guzzi led the Purple and White with a brace.
Amy Shmoys finished with seven saves in net for the Garnet.
Swarthmore graduates five seniors who assembled 56 wins over four years. The Garnet are slated to return 26 players for 2017.