SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Swarthmore College women's lacrosse team came back from a 5-0 hole in the opening quarter to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 17-10, at Clothier Field Stadium on Saturday.
The Engineers netted the first five goals of the contest but the Garnet got four of the tallies back by the end of the first to trail 5-4. RPI led 7-5 five minutes into the second before Swarthmore scored five unanswered to close the half and take a 10-7 advantage at the break. The Garnet held an 11-9 lead in the third quarter then pulled away with another 5-0 surge.
Kate Fox went off for a career-high eight goals to spark the Swarthmore comeback. The rookie also led the squad with five draw controls.
Claire Long scored three times while
Aubree Daugherty notched two goals and an assist.
Brooke Carrier shook off some early struggles and recorded a season-high six saves, making key stops to allow the Garnet rally.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Engineers dominated the first eight minutes of the game, owning the majority of the possession and racking up five straight goals. Fox scored her first of the day on a woman-up opportunity with 5:18 on the clock to get Swarthmore on the board. The Garnet began to build momentum as Daugherty beat the goalkeeper then Fox scored back-to-back tallies to bring Swarthmore within one (5-4) at the end of the first quarter.
- RPI briefly stalled the Garnet rally, scoring two of the first three markers in the second to go ahead 7-5 with 10:29 remaining. However, Swarthmore would not be denied, responding with five goals in a row to claim a 10-7 halftime lead. It was a balanced attack by the home squad as
Annabel Stifler, Daugherty, Long,
Kela Watts, and Fox all beat the goalkeeper.
- Long potted the first goal of the third before the Engineers cut the deficit to two (11-9) with back-to-back tallies ending at 5:27. The Garnet then pulled away for the final time with five consecutive goals to lead 16-9 with 9:15 to go in the fourth. Fox scored twice while
Carly Rodrigues-Reilly, Long, and Stifler all found the back of the net once. RPI had its final marker with 7:41 to play and Fox put an exclamation point on her performance with her eighth goal at the 1:32 mark.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Fox 8
Goals: Fox 8
Assists: Daugherty, Rodrigues-Reilly 1
Ground Balls: Fox,
Gillian Will 3
Caused Turnovers: Fox, Stifler,
Jamie Dwyer 2
Draw Controls: Fox 5
Saves: Carrier 6
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (3-1) heads to Hilton Head Island, S.C. for a pair of games over spring break, beginning on Wednesday versus Berry College (Ga.).
