Albertus Magnus Men's Soccer Falls to Swarthmore, 3-0, in NCAA Tourney Action
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 19 Swarthmore College Garnet scored three second-half goals en route to a 3-0 victory over the Albertus Magnus men’s soccer team in NCAA First Round action at Clothier Field on Saturday.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 19 Swarthmore College Garnet scored three second-half goals en route to a 3-0 victory over the Albertus Magnus men's soccer team in NCAA First Round action at Clothier Field on Saturday.
With the loss, the Falcons finish the season 15-4-3 after an incredible postseason run which saw the Falcons go unbeaten in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament to earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
After a scoreless first half in tonight's contest, Swarthmore's Joe Keedy scored on a scramble in front of the net in the 49th minute to give the Garnet a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Koby Levin tallied his second goal of the season as he finished on a through ball from Wyatt McCall.
In the 68th minute of play, Swarthmore's Michael Stewart drilled in a penalty kick after a foul was called in the box. For Stewart it was his team-leading 13th goal of the season as the Garnet took a 3-0 lead.
The victory improves Swarthmore's overall record to 15-2-2 on the year, while the Garnet moved to 8-2-2 on their home field.
Albertus' Donato Piroscafo (Naugatuck, Conn.) made nine saves in the loss but registered some incredible stops in the first half to keep the Falcons in the match.
Swarthmore opened the contest with a 5-1 shot advantage in the first 11 minutes of play before pushing out to a 10-2 lead in shots at the break, including a 4-0 edge in shots on goal.
Piroscafo made his first save of the night as Michael Stewart took a pass on the far side of the field and drilled a shot towards the net. The junior keeper slid and got his hands on the ball to redirect it out of the box. The Garnet took a free kick about 20 yards out by Noah Sterngold in the 25th minute as Piroscafo reached up and punched the ball out of bounds for his second save of the match.
In the second half, Piroscafo picked up five saves, including one in the 63rd minute as Wyatt McCall dribbled by a defender and lined a shot into the hands of the junior keeper.
Tonight was just the second game of the season that the Falcons gave up three goals to an opponent after losing to Coast Guard 3-1 on Oct. 10. It also marked the Falcons' first loss in their last six contests.
Swarthmore College will now play on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 5:00 p.m. against the winner of Christopher Newport/RPI in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
*Release courtesy of Albertus Magnus Sports Information Dept.