SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Emma Duffield netted the game-winning goal with 7:00 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Swarthmore College field hockey team a 2-1 victory over No. 17 Ursinus College in a marquee Centennial Conference contest on Wednesday night.
The Garnet dominated play, outshooting the Bears by a 19-2 count while also holding a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners. Thirteen of Swarthmore's 19 shots were on goal. However, the game remained scoreless through the first three quarters.
Sophia Hitchingham finally broke the ice just over a minute into the final period to put the Garnet in front, but Ursinus responded less than three minutes later to tie it. The score was even for four minutes before Duffield's go-ahead tally.
The victory marked Swarthmore's third win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet held the Bears without a shot in the opening quarter while recording six of their own. The Ursinus goalkeeper notched four saves to keep Swarthmore off the scoreboard.
- The Bears earned their lone penalty corner opportunity early in the second, which also resulted in their first shot of the evening.
Cassandra Conklin was up to the task in the Garnet cage and turned it aside to keep it scoreless.
- Swarthmore continued to generate chances at the other end, totaling five shots and four penalty corners during the frame. However, the Garnet were still unable to get one past the Ursinus keeper and the teams remained deadlocked at halftime.
- Swarthmore held the Bears without a shot again in the third quarter. The Garnet's three attempts were all on goal but were stopped by the goalie each time to send the game into the fourth, still even at zero.
- In the final frame, Swarthmore was finally able to break through in the 47
th minute. The ball went out of bounds over the Ursinus endline and the Garnet were awarded possession.
Kayla Fink found Hitchingham with a pass to the middle of the scoring area. With her back to the cage, Hitchingham settled the ball then spun around and fired a rocket of a shot past a defender and the Bears' goalkeeper to put Swarthmore ahead. It was the first collegiate point for Fink.
- Ursinus came back with the tying goal in the 49
th minute on just its second shot of the night. The Garnet persevered and went in front for good at the 53-minute mark of the match. Swarthmore earned back-to-back penalty corners. On the second chance, the initial shot by
Magdelana Jordan was blocked but she was able to get the ball back. Jordan passed over to Hitchingham, who tried a similar maneuver to her goal earlier. Duffield was able to get her stick on the attempt and deflect it past the keeper for a 2-1 Garnet lead. It was the first career goal for the junior defender.
- The Swarthmore defense held the Bears without a shot again down the stretch to close out the victory.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Hitchingham 3
Goals: Hitchingham, Duffield 1
Assists: Fink, Hitchingham 1
Shots: Hitchingham 4
Saves: Conklin 1
UP NEXT
The Garnet (7-5, 3-1 Centennial) visit Gettysburg College on Saturday for another conference matchup.
