Box Score
Ewing, NJ… Swarthmore College scored three times in the second half to stun top-ranked The College of New Jersey women's soccer by the score of 4-3 on Wednesday.
The Lions moved into the top spot of the NSCAA Division III poll earlier in the week moving up from third. That didn't deter the Garnet as they took the lead for good early in the second half before holding off a furious TCNJ rally late in the game. The loss was the first of the season for the Lions and their first at home since October 14, 2006 when they fell to Wheaton (IL) College in overtime. Since that game, TCNJ had gone 21 games at home without a loss going 20-0-1 in that span.
Both teams are now 4-1 on the season.
The game was tied at a goal apiece heading into the second with Swarthmore forging ahead 3:32 into the new frame as Laura Bolger (Centerport, NY/Harborfields) headed in a corner kick from Hannah Purkey (Palo Alto, CA/Palo Alto).
The Garnet clung to that lead as Lion senior Jillian Casey (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) nearly tied the score minutes later putting a shot off of the post.
With just under 10 minutes remaining, Swarthmore struck for a pair of quick goals with Elizabeth Mills (San Diego, CA/The Bishop's School) and Megan Columbo (Arcadia, CA/Arcadia) tallied 32 seconds apart.
Trailing 4-1, the Lions fought back as senior Laura Delaney (River Vale, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) headed in a corner kick off of the foot of Nikki Migliori (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert). That goal came just over three minutes after the Garnet had gone up by a pair.
Casey made it a one-goal game with 40 seconds remaining, but the game clock expired before the Lions got a chance for the equalizer.
The teams traded goals in the opening half as TCNJ got off to a quick start as senior Erin Cunliffe (Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood) headed in a cross from classmate Jamie Kunkel (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape). That score came 6:23 into the game. The Garnet got the goal back midway through the period as Columbo notched her first of two on the day.
Junior keeper Jessica Clarke (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) suffered her first setback of the season and has one save.
In goal for the Garnet, senior Lauren Walker (Fallston, MD/Hotchkiss School) finished with six saves.
The Lions open New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday hosting Kean University at 1 p.m. at TCNJ's Soccer Complex. Swarthmore's next game is also on Saturday as the Garnet head to Dickinson College for a noon start.
