COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus men's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to Swarthmore College on Friday evening at Patterson Field in Centennial Conference action.
With the loss, Ursinus fell to 3-7-2 overall and 0-5-0 in Centennial Conference play. Swarthmore improved to 5-2-5 overall and 1-1-3 in the conference.
The Bears recorded the game's first scoring opportunity, earning a free kick in the opening minute. Junior
Matthew McFadden sent a shot toward the near post, but it was saved by the Swarthmore goalkeeper to keep the match scoreless. Swarthmore's Shlok Kaul registered the Garnet's first shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the attempt was turned away by Ursinus junior goalkeeper
Josiah Moore.
Ursinus answered in the 16th minute with a flurry of four consecutive shots but could not find the back of the net. At the 16:12 mark, first-year
Nicholas Grippa intercepted a pass deep in the Garnet's backline, creating a one-on-one opportunity, but Swarthmore's goalkeeper made another strong save to deny the Bears. Senior
Enver Desic and junior
Mathias Stegner followed with shots that were blocked, while sophomore
Teddy Polutta's header narrowly missed over the crossbar.
Swarthmore responded with a trio of shots, but Moore and the Bears' defense held firm. At the 28:29 mark, Swarthmore created a dangerous opportunity on a fast break, but a shot from close range was blocked by first-year defender
Nathan Kinzel. With 4:13 left in the half, Swarthmore's Toshiro Kenney fired a curling shot that narrowly missed the far post, and the teams entered halftime tied 0-0. Swarthmore broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, as Adrien Marcelli converted a penalty kick after being tripped inside the box. Ursinus answered with a corner kick in the 69th minute, but the Garnet cleared the danger to maintain their one-goal advantage. The Bears ramped up the offensive pressure, earning three straight corner kicks, but their lone shot during the sequence was blocked by the Garnet defense.
With 7:25 remaining, Marcelli struck again, finding space outside the box, and scoring his second goal of the match to double the Garnet's lead. Ursinus generated one final opportunity on a throw-in with under three minutes to play, but couldn't convert and ultimately fell, 2-0.
Swarthmore held an 18-8 advantage in total shots and an 8-2 edge in shots on goal. Ursinus led 8-4 in corner kicks. Swarthmore goalkeeper Colin Crowe earned the win with two saves, while Moore took the loss despite making six stops.
The Bears return to action on Tuesday, October 14th, when they host Misericordia University at 7:30 p.m. at Patterson Field.
