Swarthmore Men's Soccer Hammers Manhattanville 4-1 to Claim Garnet Alumni Classic Title
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Junior McWelling Todman III netted two second-half goals while sophomore Michael Stewart and freshman Devon Baughen also found the back of the net, as the Swarthmore College men's soccer team (2-0) routed visiting Manhattanville 4-1 on Sunday evening in the final game of the 15th Annual Garnet Alumni Classic.
With the win, Swarthmore earned its ninth-consecutive Garnet Alumni Classic championship.
Stewart added an assist on Todman's first goal, while senior Thomas Drew, junior Jack Momeyer and junior Geli Carabases also helped fuel the dynamic Garnet offense with assists of their own.
The match with the Valiants -- a 2011 NCAA Tournament participant and one of the nation's most potent offenses -- was thought to be one of the Garnet's most challenging of the non-conference slate, but Swarthmore quickly proved itself to be the superior team. Through precision passing and pinpoint execution, the Garnet offense ran circles around the Valiants' defense, netting four goals and firing 23 shots. At the same time, the Swat defense was also up to the task, limiting the high-flying Valiants to few scoring chances, only surrendering a goal in the waning minutes of play.
Swarthmore's first goal came in the 20th minute of play, as Momyer was able to head a ball into the area towards an open Baughen, who then headed the ball over top the Manhattanville 'keeper to give Swarthmore the 1-0 lead.
In the 38th minute, the Garnet used the counterattck to double its lead. After forcing a turnover on a Manhattanville throw-in, Carabases took the ball and raced down the middle of the field. He found a sprinting Stewart in stride on the left wing. The sophomore beat a defender and rocketed a shot that was initially saved by the Manhattanville goalkeeper, only to ricochet across the goal line, giving the Garnet a 2-0 lead.
With its defense holding the Valiants at bay, the Garnet maintained a 2-0 lead late into the second half. In the 73rd minute, Todman erased any thoughts of a Manhattanville comeback, scoring on a put back after a shot from Stewart hit the far post, making it a 3-0 lead.
Just nine minutes later, Todman was in the right place at the right time once again, this time scoring off a rebounded shot from Drew, extending the Swat lead to 4-0.
The Valiants got on the scoreboard late in the contest, as Eros Olazabal -- the top goal scorer in all of Division III in 2011 -- scored in the 87th minute to bring the match to the 4-1 final.
In goal for the Garnet, senior Jake Tracy made three saves to earn the victory.
The Garnet begin a four-match road swing on Wednesday against Arcadia. Play is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.
