SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The No. 13 Swarthmore College women's soccer team outlasted visiting Franklin and Marshall College, 1-0, in the Centennial Conference semifinals on Friday night.
The top-seeded Garnet advance to the conference title game for the first time since 2018. Swarthmore will host second-seeded Johns Hopkins University for the championship on Sunday afternoon at Clothier Field Stadium as it aims to capture its fourth Centennial crown in program history.
Lauren Lior scored the lone goal of the night and
Dahlia Bedward made four saves to pick up her sixth shutout of the season. The victory also marked the 250
th career win for head coach
Todd Anckaitis.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-
Celia Kanellakos had the first chance of the game just under two minutes in. Her shot from the top of the box was stopped by the goalkeeper diving to her left and corralling the ball. In the 15
th minute, Kanellakos had two shots blocked before
Ava Gizzie got their foot on the loose ball in front of the left post but the goalie was there to keep it out of the net.
- The Diplomats posted six shots in the opening 20 minutes but did not get one on frame until the 21
st minute. Bedward came up with the save to keep it scoreless. Bedward then had the save of the game with just over nine minutes to go in the first half. An F&M attacker blasted an arcing shot from just outside the box. The ball seemed destined for the upper right corner of the goal but Bedward leaped and got her hand on it, knocking it off the crossbar and back into play.
- Late in the half, Lior looked to spark the offense, getting off three shots in the closing five minutes. Her effort paid off in the 43
rd minute as she netted her second goal of the campaign to give the Garnet the lead.
Jordan Vrees brought the ball downfield in transition and found
Kate Anderson with a pass to her left. Anderson continued to move the ball left to Lior at the top of the box and the junior fired in a rainbow shot just under the bar to give her team the upper hand.
- The Diplomats recorded six shots in the second half but the Swarthmore defense kept them to the perimeter and did not allow any dangerous chances. Just two attempts got through to Bedward and she was up to the task on both.
Stella Saad nearly put the game away for the Garnet in the 87
th minute but her shot went off the left post. F&M earned its only corner kick of the contest in the 89
th minute but was unable to score the equalizer.
GARNET LEADERS
Goals: Lior 1
Assists: Anderson, Vrees 1
Shots: Gizzie 7
Shots on Goal: Gizzie, Kanellakos 2
Saves: Bedward 4
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (14-2-3) battles No. 19 Johns Hopkins for the Centennial Championship on Sunday at noon.
