SWARTHMORE, Pa.—Shortly after the first minute ticked off the clock in Sunday's NCAA Tournament second round game, No. 12 Swarthmore College Women's Soccer asserted that it was in command. Senior forward
Marin McCoy netted the opening goal one minute and 13 seconds into Sunday's game with the Virginia Wesleyan University Marlins, setting the tone early for the Garnet who went on to win 3-0.
With the victory, Swarthmore advances to the third round of the NCAA Tournament which will be played next Saturday against Middlebury College at a to-be-determined site.
McCoy would record the brace after scoring again in the second half for her league-leading 14th goal this season.
Junior forward
Maddy Carens tallied the other Garnet goal, giving her her third goal of the season.
Swarthmore's defense shone, limiting the Marlins to just five total shots and only one on goal. Senior goalkeeper
Amy Shmoys earned the win in net. She didn't face that shot on goal until the 90th minute and then fielded it cleanly.
Swarthmore's offense on the other hand was potent. The Garnet needled away at the Marlins with 21 total shots and 13 on goal.
McCoy led everyone with five shots, four on goal, and center back Eleonore Moser posted four attempts on set pieces, including an attempt that dinged the crossbar from 40 yards out in the 26th minute.
Swarthmore's first goal of the match was set up following a tackle by Moser on the backline on Virginia Wesleyan's initial possession. Moser's clear found
Maddy Carens who found
Lizzie King at midfield. King turned and sent a textbook through ball from midfield towards McCoy who darted up the left side and met the ball in stride from 25 yards out. McCoy dribbled into the box, froze the Marlins' keeper and slipped in a left-footed shot near side for the score.
With the 1-0 lead, the Garnet kept the pressure on and earned four corner kicks in the first half. In the 33rd minute,
Brittany Weiderhold struck a corner kick from the right side that sailed in to the six, past the reach of the keeper and found the head of Carens who tipped it in for the score.
In the second half, Swarthmore put the nail in the coffin for the Marlins' season. Another pass from King at midfield found McCoy on a run on the left side. McCoy collected the pass, broke down her defender and ripped a left-footed shot from just inside the 18 that sailed into the upper left corner of the net.
Up 3-0, the Garnet were able to comfortably play all of their eligible field players without the level of intensity diminishing.
Swarthmore now prepares to face No. 3 Middlebury College on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament's round of 16. The location of that contest will be announced on Monday.
NCAA BRACKET
