Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/16/26
From Press Release
The host Swarthmore College women’s lacrosse team won in an overtime thriller Wednesday night over Ursinus College, 10-9, with a dramatic game-winner from first-year Kate Fox (Strath Haven).
The Garnet punched their ticket to the Centennial Conference playoffs, while capturing the Anita Deasey Memorial Cup.
Annabel Stifler scored five goals with an assist to pace the Garnet (12-2, 5-1) offense, while Fox added four goals, including the most important tally of the evening. Carly Rodrigues-Reilly also contributed to the scoring, netting one goal with an assist to help hold off the Bears.
Brooke Carrier (Central High) made 12 saves while allowing nine goals in a winning effort. The junior also benefited from excellent defense in front of the net.
Swarthmore captured its first 12-win season since 2012, and snapped a four-game losing skid against Ursinus.
With the loss, Ursinus falls to 7-7 and 1-4 in Centennial Conference action.
Ursinus and Swarthmore both honored Ursinus alumna Anita Deasey ’75, a former assistant coach for both programs who was remembered as a mentor, teammate and friend. Prior to the contest, the teams recognized Deasey’s passion for high achievement, love of competition, integrity in fair play and enthusiasm for the game.
Senior Ashley Noto (Clearview Regional-NJ) paced the Bears offense with a team-high four goals, increasing her team-leading total to 35 this season. Junior Jaime Michaud (Phoenixville) added three goals, while classmate Dana DeSiato (Woodstown-NJ) recorded a team-high three assists. Defensively, senior Sophia Curtis (Pennsbury), along with juniors Cait Michalowski (Shawnee-NJ) and Ryann Buchner, each recorded three caused turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– Ursinus got out to a commanding lead, scoring the opening four goals of the contest. Swarthmore eventually broke through with a Fox goal at the 4:20 mark, followed by a pair of Stifler goals to shrink its deficit to a manageable 5-3 score at the first intermission. Aubree Daugherty assisted both of Stifler’s goals to close out the opening period.
– The Garnet carried momentum into the second quarter, tying the game with back-to-back goals from Fox and Stifler. The Bears regained the lead on a powerplay goal until the Garnet answered back with an equalizer from Stifler with 2:29 left. Carrier was brilliant in the period, making five saves while allowing just one goal.
– Defense dominated the third quarter, which saw only two total goals. Stifler struck first to give her squad a one-goal edge with 9:52 remaining, while the Bears tied the game just a minute later. Both defenses then pitched a shutout for the final eight minutes of the third period.
– Rodrigues-Reilly got things started in the fourth with a go-ahead tally at the 11:21 mark, before Fox responded with an insurance goal to build a two-goal advantage. After being held scoreless for nearly 22 minutes by an outstanding Garnet defense, the Bears made one final push, scoring two late goals in the final two minutes to send the game to overtime. Ursinus won the draw control to open overtime, but were forced into a turnover by Swarthmore’s defense. After a successful Garnet clear, Fox took advantage of the opportunity, netting the game-winning goal to earn her squad a crucial victory.
