HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey (3-0) team picked up another convincing win on Wednesday afternoon, taking a 4-0 win over visiting Cabrini (1-3) at Swan Field. The Fords used a trio of first half scores to gain the lead before stifling the Cavaliers attack with a swarming defensive effort in the second half. After a brief lightning delay, the Fords added a fourth quarter goal to seal the victory.
After a first quarter in which the Fords held a dominating 12-1 shot advantage but were unable to find a goal, fortunes began to change for the hosts in the second, as junior Emma Iacobucci found the opening strike just over three minutes into the second stanza.
After the Fords were awarded a penalty corner, Haverford went to work offensively with three shots on strong looks before Iacobucci was able to collect a redirection off the pads of Cabrini goalkeeper Noe Ramirez, scooping and scoring. Iacobucci added another goal on Haverford's very next offensive corner, as a Lucy Tortolani shot was fired off the post and into the waiting stick of the junior attacker, who fired home for her third goal of the season, and a 2-0 Haverford lead.
Haverford's third tally of the contest came in the run of play, as an Ariana Sulpizio shot was redirected into the cage by senior Rylee Fennell, who converted her first goal of the season with just over seven minutes to play until the halftime intermission. At the break, Haverford held a 24-3 shot advantage, and tallied 10 corners while surrendering just two to the Cavaliers.
Midway through the third period, the skies opened up on Swan Field as the contest entered a lightning delay of approximately an hour with 6:39 reading on the scoreboard.
When the action resumed, the Fords looked every bit as ferocious on both sides of the ball, as the offensive attack went into a sustained rhythm. First years Anna Kirn and Olivia Ahart put shots on frame before fellow first year Dalia Bercow was able to redirect an attempt into the cage, depositing one towards the far post for her first career strike.
Bercow had another strong scoring attempt just moments later, but her shot hit the post before Ahart had her attempt saved. The Fords peppered the Cabrini cage in the opening minutes of the fourth stanza, ultimately finishing the quarter with an 11-0 advantage in shots.
Sunny Truslow picked up the win in goal, getting the start and seeing the first 30 minutes of action before Hannah Roth was called into duty to begin the second half. Roth made a save on a one-one-one attempt, denying Maura Tumelty of a great scoring chance early in the third period.
At the final whistle, Haverford out-shot the Cavaliers 41-6, and held a 12-4 advantage in corners. Ramirez had a valiant effort between the pipes for the visitors, stopping 18 shots in her 60 minutes of action.
Haverford improves to 15-4 all-time against Cabrini, in a series that dates back to the 1981 season. The Fords have won five straight against the Cavaliers, and three straight inside the friendly confines of Swan Field.
Head Coach Jackie Cox recorded her 99th career victory with the triumph, as Haverford's winningest coach will attempt to make it an even 100 wins as the Fords return to action against another local foe on Saturday, making the quick jaunt to Eastern for an 11 a.m. first pass.