Knights celebrate senior day beating Swarthmore in overtime

Seniors (left to right): Melissa McNamee and Staci Faye

GLENSIDE, Pa.: Arcadia University responded to a 1-0 deficit with 17 minutes to play and beat visiting Swarthmore College 2:23 into overtime 2-1, sending the team's two graduating seniors, Staci Faye (Suffern, NY/Suffern) and Melissa McNamee (Philadelphia, PA/Little Flower) off with a win in the Knight's final home game of the 2011 campaign. Junior Lynn Beatty (Chalfont, PA/North Penn) tied the game on a breakaway and first year Molly Goldstein (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) scored the corner overtime game winner helping the Knights to their 5^th win of the season.

After Arcadia finished the first half with a 6-1 lead in shots, the scoreboard remained empty at the half.

Swarthmore's (7-8 overall) Nina Jones slammed home the game's first score at 51:06, coming up with the ball from a scrum in front of Arcadia sophomore keeper Sarah Baumgardner (Hatboro, PA/Upper Moreland) giving the Garnet a 1-0 lead. Out of a timeout, the Knights found new life, needing just two minutes to erase Swarthmore's lead. Beatty placed the ball ahead of one defender, sprinted around her and two more, challenging Garnet keeper Gabriella Capone one on one with the Knights leading scorer winning with the game tying goal at 53:11. It was Beatty's 8^th goal of the season.

Coming just 4 seconds apart, Baumgardner would be forced into two of her game high 4 saves and Arcadia managed to stave off a five minute penalty with seven minutes remaining setting up the overtime decision.

On the opening drive of the sudden death period, Beatty created another breakaway chance on the right side, but was stopped in front of Capone resulting in a corner for Arcadia. Entering the overtime stanza, the Knights were 0-9 on corner attempts but needed just one more chance to finally put one away. Sophomore Ashley Ditchey (Nicholson, PA/Lackawanna Trail) sailed the initial shot in towards Capone and off a redirect it found Goldstein in her favorite spot, waiting just outside the right goal post. Goldstein, celebrating senior day as well as her birthday, iced the cake at 72:23 as she coolly corralled her shot into the back of cage. Goldstein's game winner was her 7^th score of the year.

Arcadia (5-12, 0-5 CC) travels to Albright College tomorrow for a 1 p.m. game. The game is the last on their Commonwealth schedule.

Faye and McNamee conclude their four-year careers in the team's final game of 2011, a non-conference game at Notre Dame (Md.) on Oct. 25.

Faye made her 54^th appearance today as a Knight. Majoring in English/Creative Writing, she has 12 career points, all coming on goals (6), including a game winner. She serves the University as an Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor, while taking advantage of Arcadia's Study Abroad program, studying in Australia last semester.

Today was McNamee's 71^st appearance for Arcadia. She will graduate in May with her undergraduate degree in Pre-Art Therapy. McNamee, a team captain, has scored one game winner on 4 career goals and an assist.

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