HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College Field Hockey team outlasted Washington College in a double-overtime contest, 1-0, on Wednesday Night at Swan Field. With the win, Haverford assured a trip to the Centennial Conference Playoffs for the second straight season. Elena Veale found the back of the net in the 94th minute of action to give Haverford the win. The Fords improve to 9-7 (5-4 Centennial) with the win while Washington College falls to 5-11 and 2-7 in the Centennial in defeat.
The game was the Fords first two-overtime contest since the 2005 campaign. Haverford pulls ahead in the all-time series with Washington, as the series now sits at 15-14-2 in favor of the Fords.
Regulation saw no scoring on either side, as Haverford outshot the Shorewomen 11-10 through the first 70 minutes. Haverford also saw a 10-6 corner advantage in regulation with Danielle Rette making five saves. Haverford drew a corner in the final minute of regulation, but Morgan Domanico made a save on the attempt to send the game into extra time, seven-on-seven action.
The biggest moments of the contest occurred in the second 15 minute overtime period. In the 91st minute of action, Washington College was awarded a corner, a dangerous proposition in overtime with a limited number of defenders on the field. Washington's initial shot off the corner by Elizabeth Davis was saved by Rette. The next shot, off the rebound, found the stick of Alli Dudley, but Natalie Leslie made a defensive save, guarding the cage as the last line of defense and keeping Haverford alive.
A second consecutive penalty corner attempt went to Washington and Davis and Dudley each fired strong shots that Rette was able to corral. Sophie Grabiec got in on the action, with Rette also making a save on the attempt. WAC drew yet another corner, but Davis had her shot blocked, giving Haverford a chance to end it on the other end after a heroic defensive stand.
Haverford then went to the bench, making a key substitution that would directly factor into the result. Elena Veale came into the contest for Casey Wakai in the 93rd minute. The substitution paid off immediately as the junior scored her fourth of the season, dribbling into the circle and shooting from the high left side of the scoring area. The shot was deflected by a WAC defender's stick and went high over Domanico and in for a goal, sending Haverford to the postseason.
Stephanie Terrell fired a career-high seven shots to lead Haverford. Rette, fresh off back-to-back Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, made a strong opening statement in her bid for a third consecutive award, recording her second shutout in three contests and making 11 saves. Rette was constantly diving and lunging into the right position to turn away Shorewomen attacks on the night.
The seven shots in the shortened second overtime period were the most for WAC in any period of action on the night. Dudley led the team with eight shots, including five on goal. Domanico made five saves.
Haverford is locked into the fifth seed in the Centennial Conference Championships and will travel to Dickinson on Wednesday. Time is to be announced and fans are encouraged to check the Haverford website and Centennial.org for updates. The Fords fell to Dickinson, 2-1 in Carlisle on September 17.
The Regular season will wrap up on Saturday as the Fords travel to Swarthmore in the annual Hood Trophy Clash. The pass back for the match is slated for noon.