SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The No. 24 Swarthmore College field hockey team upset No. 12 Ursinus College, 3-1, in a massive Centennial Conference victory on Wednesday night. The Garnet took down its third nationally-ranked team of the season, while improving to 2-0 in a stacked Centennial Conference.
Avery Bloom scored a career-high two goals, tallying her first two scores of the season. The senior scored off a corner in the 12th minute before delivering the game-winning strike in the 26th minute. Sophie Wilchek then added an insurance goal off a penalty stroke in the 58th minute.
The Garnet rallied for two unanswered goals after conceding an early Ursinus score. Josie Sarno made one outstanding save as the Swarthmore offense outshot its challengers 11-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams drew even with a goal in the opening period. Ursinus started the scoring in the eighth minute, while Bloom answered back with an equalizer in the 12th minute. Bloom took the corner for the Garnet and eventually tapped home an opposite-post strike from Magdelana Jordan. Swarthmore had another quality scoring chance off a corner in the 10th minute, but had shots from Wilchek and Jordan saved by the Bears.
- Bloom tacked on a second goal in the 26th minute. Hannah Ulrich rocketed the ball towards the center of the circle, which deflected off a Bears defender and found the stick of Bloom. The senior then buried a strike into the back of the cage to give the Garnet their first lead. Swarthmore controlled the quarter with a 3-1 shot advantage and a 3-2 edge on corners.
- Erin Coyle nearly gave the Garnet a two-goal lead with a strike in the 41st minute. The junior fired a shot past the keeper, but had the ball sail inches wide of the far post. The Garnet defense held the Bears without a shot in the stanza, holding a 2-0 shot advantage.
- Sarno made an outstanding save to preserve Swarthmore's lead in the 55th minute. The Bears picked up the ensuing rebound, but fired their second-chance opportunity wide of the post. Swarthmore then added to its lead in the 58th minute with a penalty stroke from Wilchek, marking her first collegiate goal.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Bloom 4
Goals: Bloom 2, Wilchek 1
Assists: Jordan, Ulrich 1
Shots: Bloom, Wilchek 3
Saves: Sarno 1
UP NEXT
The Garnet (6-3, 2-0) travel to Gettysburg College on Saturday.
