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BY CONOR CASEY

In print | November 1, 2007

The women’s soccer team enters the Centennial Conference playoffs this weekend as the conference’s number three seed after winning its final game of the regular season over Franklin & Marshall College on Saturday, 2-0.

Swarthmore dominated the match, frustrating the Diplomats, who, with a win, could have clinched the fifth and final playoff spot. The Garnet, however, only faced one shot on goal the entire game and out-shot the Dips 24-6.

Kirsten Peterson ‘11 had arguably the best game of her young college career, as she scored both of Swarthmore’s goals, the first coming just under 27 minutes into the first half off of an assist from fellow first-year Hannah Purkey ‘11. The second came unassisted 11 minutes into the second half. Peterson is second on Swarthmore’s points leaders list with 15, trailing only Megan Colombo ‘11, who is credited with 18 points this season. Peterson’s two goals on Saturday doubled her season total, giving her four to go along with her team-leading seven assists, three more than anyone else on the team.

Peterson’s efforts on Saturday, along with her assist in the previous Tuesday’s match against Haverford College earned her Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, the first time being the week of Oct. 15 when she notched a goal and two assists over two games.

Other notables for the Garnet in the game were Purkey, who, in addition to her assist, kept the pressure on Dip defenders with four shots, and Maggie DeLorme ’10, who contributed three shots, two of which were on goal.

Prior to the game, the team’s two seniors, goalkeeper Kristen Traband ’08 and forward Danielle Tocchet ’08 were honored as part of Senior Day festivities, an annual tradition where seniors are commemorated for their play and personalities on and off the field. After the festivities had ended, however, the Garnet spared no time in getting right down to business.

The victory solidified Swarthmore’s third seed in the playoffs, behind the top two finishers in the conference, Johns Hopkins University and Ursinus College, who played each other to a 0-0 tie in their final game of the regular season. Rounding out the fourth and fifth playoff spots are Haverford and Gettysburg College, respectively, who played last night to determine which of them would face number one seed Johns Hopkins in Saturday’s semifinals. The Garnet meanwhile will be facing off against Ursinus in its semifinal, also on Saturday, at postseason tournament host Johns Hopkins. Swarthmore won the regular season match-up between the two teams, 4-0, but can expect the Bears, who led the conference for much of the season, to put up more of a fight this time around.

“We need to focus on keeping our head in it,” goalkeeper Lauren Walker ‘09 said. "We can’t take Ursinus for granted. We can’t take the game on Saturday lightly. We’re just going to take it one game at a time."

With that said, Swarthmore players and coaches appear to be very positive in regards to the upcoming playoff game.

“We’re feeling really confident, " Tocchet said. "We’re looking forward to meeting up with Ursinus again.”

Head coach Todd Anckaitis expressed a similar confidence.

“We’re feeling really good,” he said. “We played them well during the season, so we know we’re capable of that. At the same time we know they’re a good team.”

Anckaitis said that no changes will be necessary in terms of strategy or play now that the Garnet are entering the postseason. Swarthmore will just play its game.

“We’re continuing on the same path, so we’re not going to change a whole lot. We’re here for a reason.”

Over this coming weekend, the Garnet hopes to take what eluded it by one victory last season.

“We’re looking for that conference championship,” Tocchet said.

Both semifinals matches will be played this Saturday at Johns Hopkins, with the winners advancing to the championship match on Sunday to determine the conference champion.

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