Miranda Saldivar (left) challenges Jacelin Muschlitz (right)

Box Score / courtesy of Swarthmore Sports Information

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Sophomore Hannah Lichtenstein netted her ninth goal of the season to lead the Swarthmore College women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Muhlenberg in the first round of the Centennial Conference Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Varsity Field. With the victory, the Garnet advanced to the semifinal round to face top seed and host Gettysburg on Saturday afternoon.
 
After hitting the crossbar earlier in the match, Lichtenstein came through in the 37th minute for the only goal the visitors would need. Sophomore Caroline Khanna received a corner kick through traffic from Melissa Trofa and sent a pass back to Lichtenstein, who chipped the ball past goalkeeper Jen Mermelstein. Trofa and Khanna were each credited with assists on the play that gave the Garnet a 1-0 advantage which they carried into the break.
 
Muhlenberg (11-6-2) attempted to rally and had several good chances to get on the scoreboard throughout the second half. Early in the frame, a direct kick from outside the box sailed wide right of the goal and a corner kick was eventually cleared away.
 
Then with under 15 minutes remaining, Colleen Touhey sent a rocket that was blocked by Ellen Bachmannhuff and another shot that was headed to the upper 90 of the net and saved by a leaping Reba Magier. Two more corner kicks were unsuccessful, allowing the Garnet to survive and advance to the next round.
 
Magier made seven saves for Swarthmore to pick up the shutout victory, while Mermelstein of Muhlenberg suffered the loss despite turning away seven shots.
 
Swarthmore (12-6) will next travel to Gettysburg to face the host Bullets in a Centennial Conference Semifinal match on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.