MALVERN, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team went up the Main Line and returned with a 4-1 victory over host Immaculata in non-conference action on a rainy Tuesday evening. Haverford (4-0) received first half goals from sophomores Emma Iacobucci and Ariana Sulpizio before Iacobucci tallied again in the second half and Rylee Fennell added the fourth goal of the night in the waning moments. Immaculata (1-4) scored on the final offensive play of the contest to avoid the shutout.
The Fords were awarded three penalty corners in the first six minutes of the contest, finding paydirt in the sixth minute when Leela Krishnan injected the attempt and found Alissa Valentine at the top of the circle. Valentine fired in towards the cage, where Iacobucci was waiting to deflect the ball in for a 1-0 Haverford lead. The goal was the first of Iacobucci's career.
The Fords added a goal in the 19th minute as Kelsey Chai saw her initial shot attempt saved by Randie Kuhar before Sulpizio was in perfect position to scoop up the deflection, finishing towards the bottom left of the cage and doubling up the Haverford advantage with her first career score.
The Fords dominated the first half, with a 13-0 edge in shots and a 6-1 advantage in penalty corners.
In the early goings of the second period, First year goalkeeper Hannah Roth was immediately tested with a pair of shots on target following an Immaculata penalty corner, turning away both in the 40th minute to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
Haverford added a third goal in the 44th minute as Iacobucci got free down the left side of the field and took it into the circle herself, slipping past the Mighty Macs defense and finishing a shot in the upper right of the cage. Immaculata looked to have a solid scoring opportunity in the 52nd minute before Allyson Lynch made a defensive save on a Macy Green shot. In the 69th minute, Iacobucci had a pair of shots denied by Kuhar, but Fennell gave Haverford a 4-0 lead, burying the rebound into the back of the cage.
Layne Kennedy scored with 15 seconds remaining as the Mighty Macs used a last-ditch penalty corner to avoid being blanked.
In total, Haverford outshot the Mighty Macs 26 to seven. Roth made four saves for the second consecutive contest. The Fords have now won 14 straight contests against Immaculata.
The Fords return home on Saturday, September 15 for a contest against No. 15 Rowan. Haverford will look to match last season's 5-0 start, which is tied for the best in program history. First pass at Swan Field is slated for noon.