HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team (11-6, 7-3 CC) defeated the Swarthmore College Garnet (4-13, 0-9 CC), 4-2 at Swan Field on Saturday afternoon. With today's win and Muhlenberg's loss to No. 6 Ursinus last night, the Fords will be the No. 3 seed in the Centennial Conference playoffs.
Prior to the game, the field hockey team honored its seven seniors: Brenna Boehman, Sydney Cone, Rachel Grunden, Kelly Hancock, Lindsey Lopes, Allison Martin and Sarah Waldis. The Class of 2016 has qualified for three Centennial Conference playoff berths and has 44 wins in its four years. The group also went to the conference finals in 2012 and has won at least 10 games three times.
Haverford had a fantastic offensive first half, outshooting Swarthmore 16-1. Freshman Mason McNulty got the home team on the board in the 20th minute as she touched in a pass from sophomore Paige Carson. Carson got into the act just 42 seconds later as freshman Stephanie Terrell found her open along the goal line. McNulty registered her first career multi-goal game a minute after Carson's tally off a deflection from sophomore Jolie Brakey. Sophomore Elena Veale recorded her team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 34th minute to put the Fords ahead, 4-0.
The second half was more evenly played as Swarthmore was playing catchup. The Garnet outshot the Fords, 13-10 and had a 13-2 advantage in penalty corners. Erin Gluck scored two and half minutes into the second stanza during a fight for the ball in the circle. In the 50th minute, Gluck added her second of the contest to cut the Garnet's lead in half. Swarthmore had five shots over the final 20 minutes of game action, but couldn't get any by Lopes.
McNulty (two goals) and Carson (goal and assist) paced the Fords' offense with multi-point outings. Veale led the home team with eight shots while Boehman was right behind her with seven attempts. Seven different Fords had a shot in the win.
This will be the Fords' sixth playoff berth in the last seven seasons with two Centennial Finals appearances (2010, 2012). Haverford has won at least 10 games in five of head coach Jackie Cox's six seasons. Next Saturday, Haverford will battle Ursinus in the No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup. The time of the game has not been determined. The Fords were taken down by the Bears, 4-1, earlier this season at Swan Field.