SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Haverford College men's soccer team (2-11-5, 0-7-2 CC) wrapped up its 2024 season against the Swarthmore Garnet (10-5-2, 3-5-1 CC) with a 7-2 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Clothier Field on the Swarthmore campus. This match marked the third Hood Trophy matchup of the fall. With the cross country results split at 1-1, Swarthmore pulled ahead narrowly in the Hood Trophy rivalry series, taking a 2-1 lead with this victory.
Just 11 minutes into the game, Swarthmore struck first when Joost Almekinders scored with a header from a Len Yamabe cross, putting the hosts ahead 1-0. Less than a minute later, the Garnet added their second goal, with Joseph Eyiolowope hammering home a driven pass into the box from Adrien Marcelli, extending Swarthmore's lead to 2-0. Just over three minutes later, the Garnet found their third goal, as Almekinders netted his second of the day in the 14th minute, one-timing a shot into the back of the net after a cross that was punched out by Haverford keeper Jackson Simon.
In the 21st minute, Swarthmore tallied its fourth goal, with Yamabe finishing off a lofted ball from Marcelli that landed at the top of the 18-yard box. Almekinders then completed his hat trick in the 28th minute, heading in a ball at the back post off a free kick served in by Yamabe.
The Scarlet and Black eventually found their first goal of the game in the 30th minute, as Jonathan D'Amour scored his first goal of the season. Following a cross from Gabe Knopf from deep in the Garnet's corner, the rookie volleyed a screamer of a shot from near the penalty spot into the back of the net, pulling one back for the Fords, as Haverford still trailed 5-1.
Three minutes into the second half, Yamabe capped off his six-point day with his second goal of the game. The midfielder quickly finished off a chipped pass into the Scarlet and Black's 18-yard box, beating first-year goalkeeper Ollie McNamara to make the score 6-1 in favor of Swarthmore.
Kieran Kunihiro then scored his second goal of the season, tapping in a corner kick from Aaron Park. The cross from Park led to a frenetic scene in front of the net, but the junior defender emerged from the pile to knock the ball over the line, making the score 6-2.
Almekinders notched his fourth goal of the game in the 72nd minute to seal the deal, as the Garnet claimed a 7-2 victory.
In defeat, the Fords registered 12 shots against Swarthmore, with co-captain Gabe Knopf leading the charge for the Scarlet and Black by firing off three shots, one of which was on target.
Haverford finishes its 2024 season with an overall record of 2-11-5 and a Centennial Conference record of 0-7-2. The Fords will look to build upon the two victories collected this season, as all eyes turn to the 2025 campaign.