LANCASTER, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team suffered its first conference defeat of the season, falling to No. 13 Franklin & Marshall by a final tally of 3-0 at Tylus Field in Lancaster. The Fords received nine saves from Danielle Rette while Leela Krishnan registered a defensive save in the second half. Haverford falls to 6-2 overall (1-1 CC) while the Diplomats are now 6-1 (3-0 CC) with the win.
Franklin & Marshall saw all its scoring off the stick of Erin Coverdale, as the forward brought her goal total to nine on the season with a hat trick, scoring in the 26th, 36th and 57th minutes to provide all the offense for the hosts. Haverford was held to just one shot in the first half as a stifling defensive effort from the Diplomats did not allow the Fords to set up a strategy in the offensive zone.
A 43rd minute insurance goal attempt by Franklin & Marshall was turned away as Melissa Gula had her shot saved by Krishnan, who picked up the defensive save after starring defensively in the early goings, seemingly having an answer for every Diplomats salvo in the circle.
The Fords outshot Franklin & Marshall in the second half as a renewed energy created plenty of chances for the visitors.
Kelsey Chai had a shot blocked in the 50th minute after working to get leverage in front of the crease. Alissa Valentine fired a shot that Diplomats goalkeeper Ilianna Santangelo corralled in the 55th minute and after a penalty corner, Elena Veale also saw her attempt saved by Santangelo, who did well to handle the pressure of the Haverford attack.
The Fords earned a 61st minute corner, but Paige Carson missed wide. The ensuing scramble led to a penalty stroke attempt for Haverford, but Allyson Lynch had her attempt gloved by Santangelo, who ranged to her right to keep Haverford off the scoreboard and single-handedly protect her shutout.
Haverford kept working to find the back of the cage, garnering a pair of last-ditch penalty corners. Santangelo was able to stop a Stephanie Terrell attempt and Mason McNulty had her 70th minute strike blocked in the circle after Krishnan inputted a corner. Haverford picked up four total corners and eight total shots. Coverdale led the way for the Diplomats with seven shots on goal. Santangelo made five saves in the clean sheet effort.
The Fords will take a quick excursion from conference play, heading to Dallas, Pa. for a matchup with Misericordia at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27. Haverford is 5-0 against Misericordia, including a 2-1 win at Swan Field last year and a 3-1 win in Dallas in 2015. McNulty scored twice in the win a season ago while Veale tallied two goals in 2015.
Haverford then returns to the Centennial Conference schedule with a home matchup with Johns Hopkins at Swan Field at noon on Saturday, September 30. Haverford has won two straight against the Blue Jays dating back to the 2015 campaign and four straight in the series at Swan Field.