Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
With a big crowd on hand for Senior Day, the Swarthmore men’s lacrosse team finished their 2010 campaign on Saturday with another heartbreaking Centennial Conference loss. The 7-6 defeat to rival Haverford was the Garnet’s seventh Conference loss of the season, as the team finished the year at 4-9 overall, 1-7 in Conference play.
On Saturday, the Garnet once again found itself in a close battle with a Conference rival. And for the fourth time this season, the Garnet found itself on the losing end by just one goal. After the Garnet scored four unanswered goals in the third quarter to take a 6-5 lead, Haverford responded with two unanswered goals of its own to secure the victory.
Six different players scored for the Garnet, including seniors Tyler Bradshaw, Gavin Musynske, and Anthony Phalen in their final game in the Garnet uniform. Senior Kevin Friedenberg closed out his stellar career in goal for the Garnet with 11 saves and senior Max Wilson added four ground balls as the anchor in a strong defense which held the powerful Haverford offense in check for much of the afternoon.
With the victory, the Fords clinched a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs. The Fords will meet #5 Dickinson in the Conference semifinals.
Just over two minutes into the second half of play, Andrew Kim scored for the Fords, opening up a 5-2 advantage. But backed by the boisterous fans, Swarthmore stormed back, as Phalen’s sixth goal of the season put the Garnet ahead 6-5 with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Bradshaw picked up his second of the game and 12th of the season on Phalen’s tally.
But Haverford’s defense responded in the fourth quarter, and Zack Cohen scored the game winner for the Fords with 10:02 remaining in regulation. Haverford was able to run the final four minutes off the clock, playing keep-away in the Garnet’s defense zone and limiting Swarthmore chances.
Friedenberg kept the Garnet in the game with one stellar save after another, including consecutive lunging kick-saves on Haverford shots from point-blank range in the fourth quarter.
Haverford scored three man-advantage goals, including on a controversial double-penalty assessed to Garnet freshman James Wright, who finished the game with four groundballs and four forced turnovers.
Bradshaw finished his senior year with 32 goals to lead the Garnet. Musynske finished second on the team with 18 points. Preseason All-American Friedenberg finished the year with 162 saves and an impressive .570 save percentage.