BALTIMORE – The Haverford College field hockey team rallied late against No. 17 Johns Hopkins (8-1, 3-0 CC), but ultimately the host Blue Jays came away with a 2-1 victory at Homewood Field in Baltimore on Saturday afternoon. Ariana Sulpizio scored in the 67th minute to cap a strong second half for Haverford that saw the Fords (4-4, 0-3 CC) match the Blue Jays in shots while holding a dominant 8-2 advantage in penalty corners.
Johns Hopkins got on the scoreboard first with a goal in the eighth minute. Izzy Thompson converted her first goal of the season, deflecting a Michaela Corvi pass into the back of the cage off a penalty corner attempt. The Blue Jays recorded their second goal of the half during the 16th minute of action with Maddie Brown-Scherer burying a rebound from an earlier shot attempt for a 2-0 lead.
Haverford called for timeout following the goal and got the ball into the circle in the 25th minute. Emma Iacobucci had a shot on goal saved by Jodie Baris before Baris also turned away a pair of Rylee Fennell shots. The Fords earned a penalty corner in the sequence, but were unable to come away with a goal.
The Fords made the second half count with a renewed offensive energy. The Fords earned penalty corners in the 48th and 51st minutes before Paige Powell peppered a pair of shots at Baris in the 64th and 67th minute, respectively. With offensive possession and momentum on the side of the visitors, Haverford found the back of the net off a penalty corner in the 67th minute. Leela Krishnan inserted the corner, which found Roxy Vassighi near the top of the circle. Vassighi rocketed in a cross that found the waiting stick of Sulpizio down low, as the sophomore sent one past Baris and into the cage for her third of the season and second in as many games.
Haverford had to hurry, and made sure to work quickly to regain possession. The Fords earned yet another penalty corner in the 69th minute, but were unable to convert as a staunch Blue Jays defense turned away the attempt. A last-ditch attempt to bring the ball into the attacking third ran out of time as Johns Hopkins was able to escape with a narrow victory.
In addition to the offensive firepower of the second half, first year goalkeeper Hannah Roth had an all-around effort with eight saves in her 70 minutes of action. Haverford finished with a 10-9 advantage in corners on the day.
The Fords will now face another tough conference opponent on Wednesday as No. 20 Ursinus visits for a 7 p.m. first pass at Swan Field. The contest serves as a prelude to a contest on Saturday, October 6 against Gettysburg to wrap up a two-game homestand.