Women’s Soccer vs. TCNJ
This past weekend, April 25 at Clothier Field, the Garnet women’s soccer team had their one and only spring scrimmage. They played The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) for a total of 120 minutes, splitting the game into three 30 minute sections. The game ended 1-2 but it was a promising showing for the Garnet women as they look towards pre-season, starting in August, and their first game — also in August 2025. The Garnet has scrimmaged TCNJ in pre season and post season play for the last few years but there is some history to their matches. TCNJ and Swarthmore have a history of competitive, real matches. In the Garnet’s 2019 season opener, Swarthmore, ranked No. 14 rationally at the time, hosted No. 8 TCNJ. The match was tight, with TCNJ securing a 1-0 victory thanks to an early goal by Nikki Butler. Swarthmore’s defense and goalkeeping were commendable, keeping the game within reach until the final whistle of the match. Generally, TCNJ’s women’s soccer program is a perennial powerhouse in Division III NCAA’s. The Lions have secured multiple New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championships, including their 22nd title in 2024. Their consistency and excellence has led them to numerous NCAA tournament appearances, with deep runs into the later stages. For example, in 2021, TCNJ advanced to the NCAA Division III national championship match, highlighting their elite status in collegiate soccer.
Considering TCNJ’s impressive track record, Swarthmore’s 2-1 loss in the recent scrimmage is a positive indicator of the team’s raw capabilities. Holding a team of TCNJ’s historic caliber to only a single goal margin demonstrates a level of competitiveness and defensive resilience. This performance suggests that Swarthmore is well-prepared for the challenges of the upcoming season, their very challenging schedule, and rival Johns Hopkins University. This should harbor a sense of optimism, also disappointed because of the result, in the team’s ability to challenge a nationally recognized program and this should bode well for the coming games.
How did the scrimmage actually play out? The first goal was scored by Swarthmore, by sophomore Ava Gizzie ’27. After their top bins banger of a goal, scored with their left foot, TCNJ followed that up in the first third with one goal. Toward the end of the second third TCNJ overcame the stalemate, off a corner kick. The first third was a very good showing from the Garnet, as they controlled the flow of the game, the possession, and scored a goal. As the next two thirds unfolded, the Garnet slowly began to lose control of the ball and possession.
Softball Sweeps Dickinson in a Double-Header
On April 27, 2025, the Swarthmore Garnet swept the Dickinson Red Devils in a Centennial Conference softball double-header at Dickinson Park in Carlisle, PA.
First game: Swarthmore dominated the opening game, securing a 10-0 victory in six innings. The Garnet offense was strong, tallying twelve hits and capitalizing off two Dickinson errors. The Garnet scored in every inning except the sixth, with significant contributions from various members of the team. Leadoff hitter Iris Barone ’26 scored three runs and drove in another, while Olivia McClammy ’25 added a triple and an RBI. Lia Fong ’28 also had an amazing game, with four RBIs. The freshman pitcher Lilly Goldberg ’28 was exceptional, throwing a complete game shutout. Dickinson’s, as a result, struggled and only had three hits and no runs; Swarthmore’s defense was on lock!
Second game: The second game also proved to be a blow-out. The Garnet won 11-1, in six innings. Barone, McClammy, and Fong all had amazing second games. Barone had three Abs and one BB. McClammy had 3 Abs, 1 run, one hit, one RBI, and one BB. Emily Bertrand ’25 also tallied three ABs, two runs, two hits, and one RBI. Amazingly, Garnet scored 10 runs in just two innings, scoring 4 runs in the second inning and 6 runs in the fifth inning. This fact is a testament to the Garnet’s patience and endurance throughout the six innings. In this sweep, the Garnet improved their record to 29-9 overall and 15-1 in conference. The Garnet sit atop the conference standings going into the Centennial Conference Tournament, beginning May 1 as the Garnet takes on either Muhlenberg or Washington College at home!
