Late Scoring Surge Lifts Washington College Past Field Hockey, 5-2
CHESTERTOWN, Md. - With the game tied 2-2 and under 10 minutes remaining in regulation , homestanding Washington College used a three-goal outburst over a five-minute span in game's final moments to race past the Swarthmore College field hockey team (4-5, 2-3) by the score of 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon.
The loss snaps the Garnet's season-high three game winning streak.
Sophomore Nia Jones and junior Catie Meador (pictured) each scored first-half goals for the Garnet. Sophomore Gabriella Capone - the reigning Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week - finished the day with a career high 17 saves.
The important game between two teams battling for a Centennial Conference playoff spot was back and forth for the first 35 minutes of play. After the Shorewomen went ahead 1-0 with an eighth-minute goal by Kristen Wille, Swat answered back exactly two minutes later thanks to a goal from Jones. The goal was the sophomore's team-leading sixth of the season and was sent up by freshman Beth Johnson's team-leading fifth assist of the season.
After Washington went back on top with a goal in the 15th minute, the Garnet again found the equalizer, this time from Meador on a penalty stroke in the 31st minute to make it a 2-2 game right before the half.
In the second half, things began to unravel for the Garnet. The Shorewomen completely dominated the play from the start of second-half play, out-shooting Swat 21-1 and putting 11 shots on frame.
Still, Swarthmore hung tough, thanks in part to seven saves from Capone over the first 25 minutes of the second stanza. In the 62nd minute, the Shorewomen's constant attack finally broke through, taking a 3-2 lead on a goal from Hilary Manion. With the lead in hand, the Shorewomen added two more goals over the next four minutes, bringing the game to the 5-2 final.
Swarthmore will look to rebound when it travels to Gettysburg on Saturday for another important Centennial contest. Play is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
