SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The No. 18 Swarthmore College men's lacrosse team opened the 2026 season with an 18-5 rout of Widener University at Clothier Field Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The score was even at two after one quarter of play but the Garnet pulled away in the second, outscoring the visitors, 7-1, in the period to lead 9-3 at halftime. Swarthmore blanked Widener in the third, 6-0, to squash any chance of a comeback by the Pride.
 
Rex Mabbs was the top standout for the Garnet, leading the way with a career-high seven points on three goals and four assists. Clay Almgren potted a team-high four goals, including the 100^th of his career, and added two assists for six total points. Almgren also moved into the program's all-time top-10 for goals during the contest. Emmett Harris and Owen Hoffman both scored twice while seven different players netted one goal apiece.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a tight opening quarter as the teams took the field for the first time this season. Mabbs and Hoffman scored the first two tallies of the game for Swarthmore, putting the host up two with 5:44 on the clock. The Garnet had a 9-7 edge in shots for the period but Widener answered with back-to-back goals to tie it up at two after 15 minutes of action.
 
- Ryan Kim found the back of the net at the 13:04 mark of the second quarter to start a 4-0 Swarthmore surge. Almgren beat the goalkeeper twice and Hoffman potted his second during the run while Mabbs dished two helpers as the Garnet went up 6-2 with 9:27 left. After the Pride scored to end their drought, Swarthmore responded with three more goals in succession. Mabbs, Jack Liss, and Almgren hit the net and the Garnet had a 9-3 advantage at intermission.
 
- Swarthmore dominated the third quarter, conceding just three shots on defense and posting six goals to increase its cushion to 12 (15-3) heading into the fourth. Harris scored twice with Mabbs, Ryder Maston, Andrew Stodden, and Almgren each adding one. The Garnet cruised through the final stanza with Luke Jenkins, Griffy Whitman, and Harlan Graber producing one goal each. It was the first collegiate goal for both Jenkins and Whitman.
 

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GARNET LEADERS
Goals: Almgren 4
Assists: Mabbs 4
Points: Mabbs 7
Ground Balls: Jack McHenry 9
Caused Turnovers: Sawyer Paul 3
Faceoffs: McHenry 16-20
Saves: Drew Tyson 7
 
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (1-0) hits the road for the first time on Wednesday when the Garnet visit Eastern University.