SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Swarthmore College field hockey team battled against No. 3 Williams College on Sunday afternoon but a fourth-quarter surge by the Ephs propelled them to a 3-1 victory over the Garnet. The loss snapped Swarthmore's four-game win streak.
 
Williams opened the scoring in the first quarter but Sophia Hitchingham found the back of the cage for the Garnet five minutes into the second period to even it up at one.
 
The teams remained deadlocked into the fourth but a defensive deflection on a penalty corner allowed the Ephs to take a 2-1 lead with under 10 minutes remaining. Williams notched an insurance goal less than three minutes later.
 
Both goalkeepers were busy during the afternoon as 15 of the combined 18 shot attempts were on cage. There were also 22 total penalty corner opportunities. Cassandra Conklin made seven stops at the Swarthmore end. Hitchingham posted a team-high three shots and put all three on target.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet were awarded a penalty corner in the fifth minute but the resulting shot was stopped by the Williams keeper. The Ephs worked the ball down the field and earned a pair of penalty corners, the second of which resulted in the first goal of the day out of a scramble in front in the seventh minute.
 
- Swarthmore had the first offensive chance of the second quarter just shy of five minutes in. Amelia Landry ended up with the ball down low off a penalty corner but her shot was saved by the goalie. However, the rebound went to the stick of Hitchingham, who deposited it into the right side of the cage to even the score with 10 minutes left in the half.
 
- Conklin had her most work in the third quarter as she turned aside all four Williams shots in the frame to keep it tied at one. The Ephs, who boast the nation's top-ranked defense, held the Garnet without a shot in the period.
 
- Swarthmore started strong in the fourth, recording three penalty corners and two shots within the first two minutes. However, the Garnet were unable to break the deadlock. Williams put on the pressure in the 51^st minute as Conklin had to make a save and the Ephs were then awarded a penalty corner. The visitors seized the lead on the opportunity as a shot from the top of the scoring area deflected off a defender and into the cage.
 
- Williams went ahead by two in the 55^th minute. The Ephs again scored out of a scramble in front off a penalty corner. Swarthmore tried to climb back in it late as the Garnet took five straight corner chances in the closing minutes. However, the Williams defense allowed just one shot to get through and it was saved by the goalkeeper.
 
GARNET LEADERS
Goals: Hitchingham 1
Shots: Hitchingham 3
Saves: Conklin 7
 
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (9-6) gets back to conference play with a trip to Franklin and Marshall College on Wednesday.