Late goal powers Rowan women’s soccer past Swarthmore

Rowan women’s soccer continued their early-season dominance on Wednesday, winning their home opener, 2-1, over No. 14-ranked Swarthmore College on White Out night. Rowan triumphed in a physical match to hand Swarthmore their first loss of the season and to remain undefeated through four games. 

“I think we gritted it out,” head coach Scott Leacott said. “I would say if you don’t play your best and still win games, that says a lot.”

The Profs, now the No. 17-ranked team in the nation according to United Soccer Coaches, improved to a 4-0-0 record to start the year thanks to goals from senior defender Ava Morales, scoring for the first time since her sophomore year, and Olivia Giordano, who netted her fourth of the 2025 campaign. 

“We are playing as a team and we are always playing for each other,” Giordano said. “I knew from the start that we were going to come out and win [the game] because together I think we can do anything.”

Entering the match, both sides had yet to concede a goal, but this would change within the first 10 minutes of a contest featuring top-ranked squads. 

Moments after kickoff, senior Lianna SanFelice was at the corner flag for Rowan. Morales scored with a header in front of the goal line to put the Profs ahead 1-0 in the third minute.

Despite the Profs striking first, the Red Dragons responded rather quickly, as sophomore Nicole Jensen glided a shot toward the far post in the ninth minute to knot the game at one a piece.

“We knew it was going to be tight,” Leacott said.

The score would remain stagnant through halftime and into the second half, with Swarthmore not afraid to take shots. Rowan freshman Leah Edinger kept the Profs within reach in her fourth consecutive start between the posts, tallying a season-high three saves on 11 shots faced. 

“I just play my game, and my game is enough,” Edinger said. “I have the jitters out there, but I make sure you can’t see them.” 

In the final 10 minutes of play, the Profs had an opening where junior midfielder Sara Wiedeman cut the Red Dragons’ back four in half. Wiedeman’s shot took a deflection off Swarthmore keeper Dahlia Bedward, which gave way for a racing Giordano to clean up the damage and tap in the game-winner in the 85th minute. 

“As a team, we are connected,” Giordano said. “That connection is what built that goal, not necessarily where the ball was or what the ball was doing, but us knowing each other and us having each other’s back.”

“We just got to keep this thing rolling,” Leacott said. “If we bring this same energy that we brought tonight, we are going to be a really hard team to beat.” 

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