Despite an extended break from competition during the pandemic, Swarthmore College student-athletes did not lose a step; the men’s and women’s cross-country teams had strong showings at their respective championships, and the field hockey, volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer teams qualified for the Centennial Conference tournament, making it the first time in school history that all four programs reached the postseason in the same season.

Over the weekend, the cross-country teams both landed fourth at the conference meet held in Cockeysville, Md. Aidan Cantine ’23 finished fourth as the Garnet’s top runner on the men’s side, while Nora Blodgett ’22 paced her team with a 13th-place result.

The field hockey team made history on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Haverford, securing the team’s first conference postseason berth since 2000. It was a must-win game for the Garnet, who were playing on the road against the 17th-ranked Fords. After an early goal from the hosts, Swarthmore scored two unanswered to earn the fourth seed in the upcoming conference tournament. As a result, the team will host fifth-seeded Haverford at Clothier Field on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m.

"I don't have words to express how gratifying it has made me feel to see this program grow during my time here," says defender Chelsea Semper '21. "We have focused on building skills and strategy on the field, but have also emphasized creating a strong team culture and sense of community among players that has helped strengthen our confidence and drive to win. We are ready to make a whole lot of people proud on Tuesday."

The volleyball team is appearing in the conference playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. The Garnet had already clinched their berth entering Saturday’s match at Haverford and were slated for a rematch against the Fords on Saturday, Nov. 6, regardless of the outcome. Haverford won 3-0, but Swarthmore looks to get its revenge when the two meet this weekend on the campus of Johns Hopkins University.

Men’s soccer ended its regular season on a high note with a 2-1 overtime victory over Haverford on Saturday afternoon. The win gives Swarthmore the fourth overall seed in the conference tournament, which will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 2 when the Garnet host Gettysburg College at Clothier Field at 7:00 p.m.

Despite a loss to Haverford to close the season, the women’s soccer team enters the postseason with momentum, winning seven of its last eight games. With a 6-3-1 record against conference competition, Swarthmore is the third overall seed and will travel to McDaniel College on Friday, Nov. 5 to compete for a spot in the finals. 

All information regarding live stats and video streams can be found on the Swarthmore Athletics website.