HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Swarthmore College men's soccer team claimed its spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament with a 2-0 triumph at Haverford College in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Garnet entered the final day of the regular season needing a win or tie against the Fords to secure a return to the conference tournament after a one-year absence. Swarthmore responded to the task with a dominating performance, posting advantages in shots (19-9), shots on goal (8-3), and corner kicks (8-1). Tejas Sarna and Joseph Eyiolowope found the back of the net for the Garnet and Christian Bignotti stopped three shots for his second shutout.
 
The Garnet earned the fifth seed for next week's Centennial Tournament and will travel to fourth-seeded Johns Hopkins University for the first round on Tuesday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Haverford had the first quality chance of the game in the 13^th minute, getting off a shot from close range in the box. However, Bignotti dove to his right and came up with the save. The Fords outshot Swarthmore, 8-5, in the first half but it remained scoreless at the break.
 
- The Garnet began a dominant second half with the first goal of the afternoon just 50 seconds into the period. Sarna had the ball just outside the box and shook off a defender as he dribbled to his right. He then blasted a shot into the upper right corner for a highlight-reel goal and a 1-0 Swarthmore lead.
 
- The Garnet controlled the period, outshooting the Fords 14-1, and continued to pressure for an insurance goal late. Adrien Marcelli nearly put his squad up two but the Haverford keeper came up with a diving save. The effort paid off in the 83^rd minute as Eyiolowope knocked in a rebound off a Len Yamabe shot to make it 2-0.
 
GARNET LEADERS
Goals: Sarna, Eyiolowope 1
Assists: Yamabe 1
Shots: Matthew Loreg, Marcelli, Eyiolowope 3
Shots on Goal: Sarna, Marcelli, Yamabe 2
Saves: Bignotti 3
 
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (5-6-5) begins the postseason on Tuesday at Johns Hopkins University.