Swarthmore College Athletics

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The No. 16 Swarthmore College field hockey team held off Washington College, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon. The Shorewomen tied the game heading into the fourth quarter, but the Garnet responded with two unanswered in the final stanza. Swarthmore has won seven of their previous eight games. 

Sophie Wilchek opened the scoring for the Garnet on a penalty stroke in the second minute. Annika Hoyer eventually notched the game-winner in the 46th minute, while Nina Wiggins provided an insurance goal in the 50th minute. 

Josie Sarno was outstanding in the cage, making five saves in the contest. The rookie was excellent down the stretch with four fourth quarter stops, highlighted by a sequence of three-straight saves off a penalty corner in the fourth. 

Prior to the start of today's game, the field hockey program honored their six seniors - Abigail Fagersten-Cavanaugh, Avery Bloom, Hayley Harris, Gabriella Vasquez, Julia Powell and Magdelana Jordan - as well as its Team IMPACT teammate Lucy DeLuca.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet capitalized off a Wilchek penalty stroke to take an early 1-0 lead. The rookie rocketed her shot past the diving goalie in the second minute to put her squad in front. Swarthmore held a 10-2 shot advantage in the stanza with a 5-2 edge on corners. 

- Sarno stepped up and saved her lone attempt in a slow offensive period for both teams. The Garnet held a 2-1 shot advantage in the quarter with Wilchek and Bloom having a couple shots blocked away. 

- The Garnet got the better of the Shorewomen for the majority of the third quarter, holding a 7-1 corner advantage. Vasquez and Libby Castle put shots on target, while Jordan rocketed a ball just wide of the post. Wilchek also earned herself another penalty stroke, but was robbed by a remarkable save. Despite being outplayed in the stanza, Washington managed to sneak the game-tying goal by the Garnet in the 42nd minute to even the score. 

- Hoyer struck quickly in the fourth with a go-ahead goal in the opening seconds. Vasquez set up the opportunity with an excellent feed, while Hoyer spun around a couple defenders for a quick attack. Wiggins then piled on in the 50th minute with her fourth goal of the season. Jordan broke her teammate free with a leading pass, while Wiggins outmaneuvered the goalie for a breakaway score. Sarno was outstanding in the quarter, logging four saves - including three stops in a span of ten seconds. 


GARNET LEADERS
Goals: Wilchek, Hoyer, Wiggins 1
Assists: Vaquez, Jordan 1
Shots: Coyle 5
Saves: Sarno 5

UP NEXT
The Garnet (11-4, 7-1) host Haverford College on Wednesday in their regular-season home finale.