CHESTER, Pa. - The Swarthmore College women's lacrosse team dropped a tight battle against Widener University, 12-11, to open the season on Saturday afternoon. The Pride willed their way to victory with a 7-2 advantage in the second half. 

Annabel Stifler opened the season with a hat trick to lead the Garnet attack, while Aubree Daugherty added two goals. The team spread out the scoring evenly with eight different players registering goals. 

Kate Fox impressed in her collegiate debut, causing four turnovers with a team-high five draw controls. She also scored one goal with three ground balls in a well-rounded performance. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
- After the Pride scored in the opening minute, the Garnet countered with back-to-back goals from Zoe Crawford and Fox. Later in the stanza, Stifler scored on a powerplay to retake the lead for Swarthmore. Widener attempted to keep pace with the Garnet, but Isabella Fermo and Kela Watts both tallied goals in the final minute to take a one-point edge, 5-4.

- Swarthmore dominated the second quarter, building a five-goal advantage over the Pride. Stifler and Watts both scored a pair of goals to rally for five-straight Swarthmore scores. Widener would slow Swarthmore momentum with its lone goal of the quarter, while keeping the Garnet offense off the board for the final seven minutes.

- The Pride flipped the script on the Garnet, rallying for a 4-1 advantage in the third quarter. Widener notched the first goal of the stanza until Carly Rodrigues-Reilly provided a response to put the Garnet ahead by four goals. Widener ended the quarter with three-unanswered goals, which included a shorthanded score, to pull within one goal, 10-9.

- Early in the fourth, Widener evened the score with their fourth-unanswered goal. Claire Long then helped the Garnet get back on track with a much-needed score, but the Pride closed the game with two-straight goals to squeak out a victory. 

GARNET LEADERS 
Points: Stifler 3
Goals: Stifler 3
Ground balls: Carrier 4
Caused turnovers: Fox 4
Draw Controls: Fox 5 
Saves: Carrier 2

UP NEXT
The Garnet (0-1) continue their two-game road swing at Alvernia University on Wednesday.