D'Annunzio Sets Program Shutout Record as No. 11 Swarthmore Men's Soccer Defeats Manhattanville 1-0
PURCHASE, N.Y. - Senior goalkeeper David D'Annunzio broke the 20-year-old program record for career shutouts by shutting down one of Division III's most potent offenses and freshman Michael Stewart scored the late game-winner as the No. 11 Swarthmore College men's soccer team (8-2, 3-1) earned a hard-fought 1-0 road victory at regionally-ranked Manhattanville (8-3) on Wednesday evening.
D'Annunzio made four saves on 15 shots to earn the 26th clean sheet of his career. With the shutout, he passes the previous mark of 25 set by Andrew Cavenagh '91.
Stewart scored the game-winner in the 73rd minute, converting off a rebound after his initial shot was saved by the Valiants' goalkeeper. The goal was Stewart's third on the season.
Manhattanville entered the game averaging 3.40 goals per game, which ranked seventh in all of Division III.
Despite each squad sporting a high-scoring and explosive offense, neither side was able to get on the scoreboard in the first half and the match went to the half scoreless.
In the second half, Swarthmore nearly scored in the opening minutes as sophomore Cameron French saw his header off a Jack Momeyer corner kick saved in the 47th minute.
The Valiants responded to the Garnet's near strike with an offensive surge of their own, firing off three shots between the 48th and 52nd minutes.
The game settled down after the initial second-half flurry with neither side able to gain control until the 73rd minute. That's when Swarthmore's persistence and hard work finally paid off with Stewart's goal, giving the Garnet the 1-0 lead.
With the lead, it was up to D'Annunzio and the Garnet defense to hold off the high-powered Valiant offense in the final minutes. Despite facing six shots in the final 10 minutes, the Swarthmore defense was up to task, keeping Manhattanville off the scoreboard and preserving the 1-0 win.
The Valiants finished the game with a 15-12 edge in shots, but the Garnet put more on target (8-4).
Swarthmore returns to Centennial action on Sunday when it hosts first-place Gettysburg at 2:00 p.m.
