LANCASTER, Pa. – The No. 15 Swarthmore College men's lacrosse team held off Franklin and Marshall College for a 10-7 road victory in Centennal Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
The teams were even at five in the third quarter. The Garnet tallied four of five to lead 9-6 early in the fourth. The Diplomats cut the deficit to two with eight minutes to go but Swarthmore did not allow another goal after that.
Michael Hardiman was the leading goal-scorer for the Garnet for the second game in a row, potting four on the day. All four of Hardiman's tallies came in the second half.
Rex Mabbs,
Von Mabbs, and
Carter Strauch each registered three points.
Samuel Ginsberg collected a season-high five ground balls to pace the squad and he also netted his second goal of the year.
Drew Tyson equaled his career best with 18 saves in the Swarthmore net.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The contest was scoreless for the opening seven minutes before the Garnet scored twice just 16 seconds apart.
Jackson Brosgol got Swarthmore on the board at the 7:26 mark. The Garnet lost the ensuing faceoff but a quick F&M turnover sent the ball the other way and Ginsberg found the back of the net at 7:10 for a 2-0 Swarthmore lead.
- The Diplomats came back to tie it at two before
Nolan Ohrman gave the Garnet the edge again with just eight seconds to go in the first. It was the first of three consecutive Swarthmore markers as it took a 5-2 advantage.
- F&M posted the last goal of the first half before tallying the first two of the third quarter to even it up at five apiece. Hardiman then produced his first of the day with 7:41 left in the period to put the Garnet back on top. After a
Rex Mabbs goal, the Diplomats hit the back of the cage again to close the gap to one (7-6) heading into the fourth.
- Hardiman gave his squad some breathing room with back-to-back markers just five seconds apart in the final frame. After the first goal,
Matthew Martinez earned a clean faceoff win and started a tic-tac-toe passing play, connecting with
Carter Strauch who then found Hardiman for the quick strike. The sequence gave Swarthmore a three-goal cushion (9-6) with 13:40 remaining.
- F&M climbed to within two (9-7) with eight minutes to play. However, the Diplomats had just three possessions the rest of the way and managed only one shot on target, which was handled by Tyson. The Garnet defense forced one possession-clock violation and five shots wide of the cage over the closing eight minutes. At the other end, Hardiman picked up his fourth tally with 2:37 left to end the scoring.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Hardiman 4
Goals: Hardiman 4
Assists:
Carter Strauch 3
Ground Balls: Ginsberg 5
Caused Turnovers:
Henry Kolyer 2
Faceoff Wins:
Jack McHenry 5, Martinez 4
Saves: Tyson 18
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (8-1, 2-0 Centennial) has a week off before hosting Gettysburg College on April 6 at 12 p.m.
