SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's soccer team gave nationally ranked Swarthmore a stiff test on the road, but a spectacular first-half goal proved the difference in a 1-0 win for the Garnet in a tightly contested Centennial Conference tilt.

Bidding for its first victory over a ranked team in school history, Ursinus (4-7-1, 2-4) held slim advantages in shots (19-18) and corners (6-5) in an evenly matched fray with No. 22 Swarthmore (12-1, 5-1), which needed a highlight reel strike to put the Bears away. It came in the 34^th minute, when Katie Dougherty sent a pass into the box. Hannah Lichtenstein stuck her left leg out to flick the ball over her head and into the back of the net, just past a diving Courtney Sullivan.

Sophomore Mackenzie Groff had one of Ursinus' most dangerous efforts in the opening frame, a rising blast in the 16^th minute that sailed just over the crossbar. Sullivan made two big saves in the period, one on a chip shot just 100 seconds after kick-off and another in the 41^st minute, when Dougherty was played in all alone on the right side of the box but saw her attempt stoned by the Bears' senior net minder.

Ursinus kept the pressure on throughout the second half. Senior Erin Farrell came close to equalizing at the 65-minute mark, but her stab volley on a pass by Groff was negated by Amy Schmoys. The Swarthmore keeper kept the Garnet in front with a critical stop two minutes later, as junior Stephanie Donahue's rocket off a free kick was ticketed for the upper portion of the net before Schmoys got a hand on it to send the ball over the crossbar.

Donahue had an opportunity to score with just over five minutes remaining, but her left-footed shot following a run down the left flank was directed right at Shmoys. The Bear junior took aim one last time with 37 seconds to go, but Shmoys was there to collect her long-range effort.

The Garnet who have reached the CC championship game two years in a row and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last season, posted their 10^th shutout of the year; Swarthmore came in ranked 13^th in Division III in goals-against average, having surrendered only four in 13 games.

Junior Kendall Couch spurred the Bears with four shots, while Donahue, Groff, and senior Jeannie Jasinski had three apiece. Sullivan finished with seven saves in a strong performance.

Shmoys stopped eight shots for the Garnet, who got five on the offensive end from Lichtenstein, including the game-winner.

Thursday's game marked the Bears' sixth against a regionally ranked foe; Ursinus has faced three-quarters of the top eight teams in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic poll.

The women's soccer team plays its final home game of the season on Wednesday, October 19, when Washington College comes to town for a CC clash.