Stockton 2, #1 Swarthmore 1 (2OT)

Kyle Evans

Boxscore
Richard Stockton (11-4-1) extended its unbeaten streak to nine straight contests (7-0-2) in thrilling fashion, upsetting #1 Swarthmore (11-1-2) 2-1. Kyle Evans (Seaville/Ocean City) took a long pass from Brennen Fitzsimmons (Neptune/ Neptune) and scored on a left-footed shot with 1:11 gone in the second overtime to give the Ospreys the victory. Stockton dealt Swarthmore its first loss of the season just one day after the Garnet ascended to the top spot in the NSCAA poll.

Clay Gashlin (Bayville/Central Regional) had Stockton’s best scoring chance of the first half on a shot from the left wing that the Swarthmore goalie got his arm on and deflected off the post. Osprey goalkeeper Tim Brett (Palmyra/Palmyra) later made a point-blank save on a header, and the game was scoreless at the break.

In the second half, Swarthmore got on the board first by scoring on a rebound at 58:27. The goal came after Brett stopped a blast from inside the top of the box. Stockton knotted the contest on Brian Thomsen’s (Brick/Msgr. Donovan) goal just under six minutes later. Rafael Duarte (Ocean City/Ocean City) and Kevin Churchill (Newton/Newton) had the assists with a header and a flick to Thomsen for the finish.

Duarte registered Stockton’s best chance of the scoreless first overtime on 12-yard shot from the right wing that sailed wide. Swarthmore attempted two shots from inside the box in the first OT, but both were off the mark. Evans’ game-winning tally came early in the second extra session for the 2-1 Stockton triumph. Brett made nine saves in picking up his seventh win of the season and running his unbeaten streak to nine straight contests.