CHESTER, Pa. - After trailing twice, the Swarthmore College Garnet fought back to earn a thrilling 3-2 victory in overtime against DelCo rivals Widener University on Wednesday night.  Just 3:43 into overtime DelCo native Harrison Hotham '22 skipped a header into the upper corner off an excellent free kick by junior midfielder Leo Hecht.  It was Hotham's first career goal for the Garnet.

The match was originally scheduled to take place on the opening day of the season - last Wednesday - at Widener's Chester campus.  The storms brought on by Hurricane Ida washed out that appointment, so the teams met this evening for the renewal of their fierce Delaware County rivalry.  Widener entered the match fresh off a thumping 3-0 win over Immaculata on Sunday in the final match of the Garnet Alumni Classic tournament.  The Garnet entered undefeated after winning both matches over the weekend.

Things started off as expected - hectic - and the hosts drew first blood.  Just over eight minutes in, the Pride earned a corner kick and hit it to the near post.  Swarthmore misjudged in defending the corner and Widener were up, 1-0, enabling the ROTC crew at the far end of the field to fire off the cannons in celebration.  (Widener is the former Pennsylvania Military College).

Eleven minutes later came the response.  Swarthmore's Charley Ward drilled a dummied ball past Widener's outstanding goalkeeper, Ryan Van Pelt.  But only six minutes later another misjudgment at the back saw the Garnet concede again.  After Ward had a penalty saved by Van Pelt, Swarthmore trailed 2-1 at the half.

Shortly after the break, junior striker Bless Tumushabe combined through the middle with senior winger Joe Barile for a highlight-reel goal to equalize the contest.  Tumushabe drove across the field right to left and slipped the ball out wide to Barile.  Barile turned the corner and slipped it back across the goalmouth to the near-post run of Tumushabe for the close-range tap-in.  It was Tumushabe's first goal of the season, and sixth of his career.

Regulation ended 2-all, but the Garnet came out firing on all cylinders in the overtime.  The visitors earned three consecutive corners, and on the third, Hecht received a back-pass from sophomore forward Brandon Cramblit.  From the left side of the box, Hecht attempted a cross, but a Widener defender knocked it down with his hand.  On the ensuing free kick, Hecht drove a perfect cross into the middle of the box.  Hotham timed his run and jump precisely to meet the ball and deflect it past Van Pelt into the upper right hand corner for the sudden-death winner.

The Widener defender was sent off for dissent following the goal while the Garnet celebrated yet another nail-biting victory in the near corner of the field.  Widener have not beaten the Garnet since 1999, with only one draw in the ensuing 22 years.

Swarthmore travel to St. Mary's College (Md.) this weekend for the Seahawks Classic featuring matches against Salisbury University (Saturday, 9/11) and St. Mary's (Sunday, 9/12).  Both matches will kick off at 4:00 p.m.