BALTIMORE, Md.— No. 21 Swarthmore College Women's Soccer captured the Centennial Conference Championship for the second time in four seasons and as a result, locked up an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The second-seeded Garnet and No. 10 Johns Hopkins University, the tournament's top seed, were deadlocked 2-2 after regulation and overtime on Saturday, forcing the game to be decided in a shootout.
Swarthmore advanced after making three penalty kicks to Hopkins' one. Swarthmore senior Sommer Denison, who converted from a field player to a goalkeeper this season, earned the tournament's MVP honors after entering the game for the shootout and saving a pair of attempts.
The Garnet led off the shootout with sophomore Sydney Covitz tucking in her attempt. Hopkins followed up with a make. Sophomore Maddy Carens scored for Swarthmore on the next chance and Hopkins shanked its next try wide right. Senior Katie Dougherty found the back of the net to put Swarthmore ahead 3-1. Denison then saved the next two Blue Jays' shots to secure the championship. As Denison scooped up the final attempt, the team rushed across the field to celebrate the championship with their keeper.
Early in Sunday's game, it appeared that the end result would be in Swarthmore's favor based on two Garnet goals in the first 30 minutes. However, the game took a turn in the second half and Hopkins out-shot Swarthmore 14-1 in that period.
Seneca Kinn-Gurzo put Swarthmore on the board in the 15th minute, deflecting in a cross from Marin McCoy. McCoy, who has 18 goals on the year, a new school record, put Swarthmore ahead 2-0 in the 27th minute with a strong strike following a cross from Hannah Lichtenstein.
The Blue Jays scored their first goal in the 58th minute, cleaning up a rebound off the post and then struck again in the 62nd minute with a goal into the upper left corner of the goal.
Swarthmore goalkeeper Amy Shmoys recorded a season-high eight saves. She recorded three of her saves in overtime as Hopkins out-shot Swarthmore 8-1 in extra time.
Sunday's championship is the second in Swarthmore Women's Soccer history. The last time, also settled with PKs, came on Nov. 9, 2014 against none other than Johns Hopkins University.