GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team traveled to Gettysburg College on Saturday afternoon, falling to the host Bullets by a final score of 2-1 despite controlling the tempo of the contest with a 12 to four shot advantage and a 10 to four advantage in penalty corner opportunities on the day. Lucy Tortolani was the goal scorer for Haverford, netting her third of the season with a 49th minute equalizer. The Fords are now 6-6 on the season (1-4 CC) while Gettysburg pulls to 6-5 (4-1 CC) with the home win.
Haverford came out firing, controlling the early run of play by peppering Gettysburg keeper Haley Mowery with four shots on goal in just over nine minutes to begin the contest. Mowery was valiant in stopping the Haverford offense and allowed for the Bullets to counter in the 15th minute. On its first shot of the game, the Gettysburg offense found the back of the cage as Victoria Umbach took a centering pass from Lindsay Kraus in heavy traffic and was able to get one past Danielle Rette with a crafty backhand from the top of the circle.
The Fords earned a corner in the 32nd minute, but ensuing shots from Elena Veale and Tortolani were saved by Mowery. Before the halftime whistle, Gettysburg earned a last-ditch corner and got a shot attempt on frame before Malin Ehrsam was able to swat away an attempt with a defensive save, her first of the season, keeping Haverford within striking distance.
The Fords headed into the intermission trailing despite a seven to three shot advantage in the opening stanza. In the 49th minute, the Fords tied the score at 1-1 as Lucy Tortolani was able to redirect a high shot attempt from Rylee Fennell, tipping the ball out of midair and guiding the deflection into the cage towards the far post to give Haverford life and a new-found momentum. Fennell, a sophomore, was credited with her first career assist on the play.
A 60th minute penalty corner led to a Grace Torrance goal for the Bullets, as Emma Bertrando was credited with the assist after firing a shot off the penalty corner attempt towards the goalmouth. Torrance was able to tip in the strike towards the left post for a late lead for the hosts.
The Fords looked to have an attempt to equalize yet again as they earned a pair of late penalty corners in the final two minutes of play. The first attempt was whistled dead before a shot, and the second saw Elena Veale's screamer sail just wide of the post as Gettysburg was able to dribble out the final seconds of action to secure a home win.
Tortolani led the way with a game-high four shots on goal. Mowery was a defensive standout for the Bullets, making seven saves and turning away a corner-minded offensive attack for the Fords.
Haverford next returns home to Swan Field, where the squad is 5-1 on the season, for a Wednesday night contest against visiting Washington College. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. and is Haverford's annual Think Pink Game for breast cancer awareness.