COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's soccer team could not overcome a two-goal deficit at halftime falling to No. 20 Swarthmore 4-1 on Saturday afternoon. 


With the loss, Ursinus moves to 4-5-3 overall and 0-3-2 in Centennial Conference action. Meanwhile, the Garnet improved to 9-0-1 on the season and 5-0 in conference play.
 

The Bears earned the first shot of the contest as senior Izzy Allocco fired a low line drive shot on goal that was saved by the Swarthmore defense. During a corner kick in the 5^th minute, Swarthmore nearly connected on a the opportunity, but a foul was called on a Garnet forward to nullify the shot. Moments later, Swarthmore's Allie Zitelli sent a shot on goal, but a diving saves from senior goalkeeper Maddie Nau kept the game scoreless. During the 18^th minute, Swarthmore's Ava Gizzie fired a shot on goal but a quick reaction from Nau denied the Garnet's scoring chance. The Bears defense continued to play well as they denied the ensuing corner kick opportunity to keep the game tied at zero. Gizzie earned another scoring opportunity during the 21^st minute, but Nau made a leaping save to keep the Garnet off the board. Swarthmore's forward finally capitalized during a corner kick opportunity to give Swarthmore a 1-0 lead during the 25^th minute. The Garnet played the corner outside the box and a low line drive shot from Gizzie snuck past the Bears defense and into the back of the net.

 
The Bears quickly responded on a counterattack as senior Ciara Rago found space down the near sideline but was tripped in the box resulting in a penalty kick. Junior Grace Senese stepped up to take the shot, but her shot missed high of the crossbar to keep the deficit at one. Swarthmore added to their lead during the 29^th minute, as Lauren Lior sent an arching shot on net from 28-yards away just outside the reach of Nau in goal to give the Garnet a 2-0 advantage. With under eight minutes remaining in the first half, sophomore Kalli Roskos tallied a shot that just missed wide of the net. The Garnet tallied the final shot of the half with under two minutes to play as Nau made a great diving save to keep the deficit at two at halftime.

 
Swarthmore added an insurance goal just three minutes into the second half as just inside the box Allie Zitelli sent a curling shot towards the far post and just missed the outstretched arms of Nau in goal to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. During the 54^th minute, Ursinus answered with a shot from first-year Madison Bjorndahl, but her scoring chance was blocked by a Garnet defender. Swarthmore nearly added a goal during the 62^nd minute as on a breakaway Swarthmore's Marea Lee was one-on-one with the Bears netminder. Lee made a move to her left, but her scoring chance was denied on a great save from Nau. Moments later, Lee almost converted on a similar play as she made a move past Nau, but a great defensive save from first-year Maddie Jolie kept the deficit at three.
 

At the 71:23-mark, the Bears were awarded a corner kick and after quickly playing the ball into the box, the cross attempt just missed the head of sophomore Alicia Page and skipped out of play. During the 79^th minute, senior Alex Chalmers nearly found the back of the net, but a diving save from Swarthmore's Sofie Aird kept Ursinus off the board. Moments later during a Bears corner kick, senior Izzy Allocco sent a curling pass into the box finding the head of Chalmers. The header from Chalmers found first-year Gwyn Kryskiewicz whose shot found the back of the net to cut the Bears deficit to two. The goal from the Bears' midfielder is the first of her career and her second point of the season after tallying an assist against Delaware Valley on September 1^st. Swarthmore added a late goal in the 82^nd minute resulting in the 4-1 decision.
 

Swarthmore's netminder Lila Travers earned the victory in goal behind one save in 80 minutes of action. Meanwhile for the Bears, Nau was dealt the loss after recording 13 saves, her fourth double digit save performance of the season.
 

The Bears will return to action on Wednesday, October 11^th as they travel to Haverford, Pennsylvania for a Centennial Conference matchup against Haverford College at 4 p.m.