SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College women's soccer team rose to the level of competition in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against No. 3 Messiah College in a classic showdown on Saturday night. 

Ava Gizzie delivered the first strike with a remarkable, highlight-reel score in the 23rd minute of play. The Garnet maintained their one-goal advantage behind an incredible effort from sophomore Sofie Aird, who stepped up massively in her second career start and fourth career game played, until the Falcons tied the game in the 88th minute. 

The Garnet defense withstood a steady Messiah attack as they did their best to hang on to an early advantage. Aird matched a career-high eight saves, which included several unbelievable stops. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sydney Ross nearly put the Garnet on the board in the eighth minute after intercepting a pass in her offensive zone. The first-year controlled the errant pass, before firing a shot just below the crossbar. Messiah's keeper was forced to make an excellent leaping save as she batted the strike out of bounds. Swarthmore had another chance off the ensuing corner attempt, but Katie Kerman's shot was corralled by the keeper. 

- Messiah put together a flurry of shots, but were unable to get a quality look on goal. The Garnet defense held the Falcons to just one shot on goal in the first 20-minutes.

- Gizzie dazzled the crowd with an incredible goal in the 23rd minute. After receiving a pass from Macie Mangini, the sophomore carried the ball to the left side of the box before unloading a strike from 25-yards out. Gizzie elevated the ball past the keeper's hand and kissed the ball perfectly off the crossbar for their team-leading fourth goal. 

- Aird bailed out the Garnet with a couple big-time saves in the final five minutes of the opening half. The sophomore reacted quickly to catch a misdirection off a corner attempt in the 42nd minute. She then made a diving stop in the final minute of the opening half to deflect a strike just past the right post. 

- Ross added another shot on goal in the 68th minute, but was denied once more by the keeper. Messiah turned up the pressure in the second half as it hunted for the game-tying score. The Falcons tested Aird with a couple shots in the 72nd and 74th minutes, but were turned away by the sophomore. 

- Despite Messiah's efforts to turn up the intensity on offense, Swarthmore's defense stood strong against a talented Falcons attack as they limited quality looks from their opponent. Anwen Reed made a remarkable heads-up play in the 79th minute as she slide tackled the ball away from an attacker in the box to defuse a dangerous scoring opportunity.  

- Messiah eventually found its equalizer in the 88th minute off its 11th corner attempt of the game. The Falcons played the ball into a cluster of bodies in front of the goal. Messiah was able to possess the loose ball and finally beat Aird for the game-tying score. 
 


GARNET LEADERS
Goals: Gizzie 1
Assists: Mangini 1
Shots: Gizzie 3
Saves: Aird 8

UP NEXT
The Garnet (2-0-2) continue their homestand with Rowan University on Wednesday.