COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College women's lacrosse team dropped a critical conference matchup to Ursinus College, 11-9, in Wednesday's battle for the Anita Deasey Memorial Cup. The Garnet, who hold several key tiebreaker scenarios, remain in playoff position with a 3-3 record and two games remaining in the regular season.
The Bears used a three-goal advantage in the second quarter to propel themselves past the Garnet in an otherwise back-and-forth battle. Swarthmore outscored Ursinus, 2-1, in the final quarter, while both teams drew even in the first and third, respectively.
Claire Long, Kela Watts and Elizabeth Zack each scored twice to lead Swarthmore's attack. Watts matched a career-high four points with two goals and two assists.
Brooke Carrier made 11 saves in a solid defensive performance. The first-year made several key stops to keep her squad within striking distance the entire night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams traded goals early in the opening quarter. Isabela Bloomquist opened the scoring at the 13:29 mark. Sophie Finkelstein then added a tally in between a pair of Ursinus scores to knot the game at two. Watts assisted both of the Garnet scores. Following a pair of unanswered Ursinus goals, Zack evened the score with 1:20 left until the Bears went back ahead with 22 seconds remaining. Carly Rodrigues-Reilly then scored in the final second to tie the game at 4-4.
- The Bears rallied for four-straight goals to build a four-goal cushion in the second quarter. Long slowed down Ursinus with a powerplay goal at the 4:31 mark. Both teams were held scoreless for the remaining four minutes as the Bears exited the half with an 8-5 edge.
- In the third quarter, Watts put the Garnet within two scores with a goal at the 6:58 mark. The Bears followed with a pair of goals, before Watts notched her second tally of the quarter with 11 seconds remaining. Ursinus held onto its three-goal advantage, but Carrier kept her team in contention with five saves in the period.
- Ursinus increased its lead to four goals with the opening tally of the fourth. Long then scored from a free position, while Zack cut Swarthmore's deficit to two at the 3:55 mark. However, the Garnet were unable to pull any closer as the Bears ran out the clock on Swarthmore.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Watts 4
Goals: Watts, Long, Zack 2
Assists: Watts 2
Ground Balls: Carrier 5
Caused Turnovers: Holland 4
Draw Controls: Holland, Zack 6
Saves: Carrier 11
UP NEXT
The Garnet (10-4, 3-3) host No. 4 Gettysburg College in their regular-season home finale on Saturday.
