Nov. 7, 2010

Box Score | Photo Gallery

SWARTHMORE, PA - The Swarthmore soccer team advanced to the Centennial Conference championship game with a 4-2 win in a penalty kick shootout over fourth-seeded Johns Hopkins Saturday night. With the game tied at 1-1 after 110 minutes of action, the game was decided in a shootout. The Blue Jays are now 13-3-4 and await a possible NCAA Tournament berth on Monday. The Garnet improve to 14-1-3 and advance to Sunday's championship game against Muhlenberg.

Senior Scott Bukoski put the Blue Jays on top in the 37th minute with his seventh goal in the last five games. From the right end line, senior Kevin Hueber sent a nice ball across the mouth of the goal, that Bukoski one-timed past Swarthmore goalie David D'Annunzio. The goal was his fifth career goal in the Centennial Conference Tournament, breaking the conference record.

The Garnet stepped up the pressure in the second half, outshooting the Blue Jays, 9-2, and finally capitalized in the 74th minute. Phillipe Celestin pulled the home team even when he stepped up and ripped a hard shot from about 20 yards out just under the cross bar. That would be all the scoring, however, as neither team could find the go-ahead go through 16 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime.

In the shootout, Swarthmore went first and freshman John Belanger, who came in for the shootout, came up with the stop. Junior Corey Adams then converted his shot to put Hopkins up 1-0 after one round. Swarthmore would go on to hit on its final four shots, while the Blue Jays missed on two attempts, as the Garnet prevailed 4-2.

Senior Ravi Gill finished with eight saves in goal for the Blue Jays, while D'Annunzio had four for the Garnet in the draw. Swarthmore held the edge in shots (17-13) and corners (6-3).