SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Libby Castle scored the game-winner with just 0.1 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to give the No. 15 Swarthmore College field hockey team a thrilling 2-1 victory over No. 13 Ursinus College on Thursday night, sending the Garnet to the Centennial Championship for the first time since 2023.
Swarthmore gutted out the win after being pressured by the Bears throughout the contest as Ursinus finished with a 20-6 advantage in shots. The Bears threatened often with 18 penalty corners but the Garnet defense stood tall.
Josie Sarno was outstanding in the cage, posting a career-high 14 saves.
Avery Bloom also found the back of the net for Swarthmore.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ursinus recorded back-to-back penalty corners just over four minutes in and Sarno came up with a stop to keep it scoreless. Sarno made another save on a corner in the 14
th minute.
- The Garnet broke through on their first shot of the game with 13:48 left in the second quarter.
Hannah Ulrich sent the ball downfield and it was broken up by a defender. However, the ball ricocheted to Bloom, who found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. She beat the netminder with a shot to put Swarthmore up 1-0.
- Castle put an opportunity wide in the 19
th minute while Sarno tallied another three saves in the period and the Garnet held the lead at halftime.
- In the third, Castle had a shot stopped by the goalie at the 37-minute mark and the score stayed at 1-0. Sarno added two more saves but the Bears netted the equalizer on a penalty stroke in the 45
th minute to send the match to the fourth tied at one.
- Ursinus continued to pressure in the fourth, registering three shots and three penalty corners but Sarno was up to the task.
Kayla Fink had a late chance in front for Swarthmore with her offering squeaking through the goalkeeper. However, the goalie was able to recover and sweep it out of harm's way before it crossed the goal line.
- Both teams produced one shot in the first extra session with the goalie making the stop each time. The Bears pressed forward in the second overtime period, posting seven shots and five corners, but the Garnet defense did not break. Ursinus had a golden opportunity to win the contest but the Bears failed to get their stick on the ball while free at the right post with open net in sight. Sarno continued to keep Swarthmore in it with four more saves.
- With time winding down and a shootout looking inevitable, the Garnet were awarded possession at the top of the offensive zone. Fink sent the ball to Jordan at the top of the scoring area. Jordan wheeled to her left and made a nifty move around two defenders to dribble towards the cage. Jordan passed left to Castle in front, who settled and fired past the goalie to beat the clock and send Swarthmore to the conference final.
GARNET LEADERS
Goals: Bloom, Castle 1
Assists: Jordan 1
Shots: Castle 3
Saves: Sarno 14
UP NEXT
The Garnet (12-6) travel to Johns Hopkins University on Saturday as they seek their first conference title since 1997.
