HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey team (6-8, 1-6 CC) suffered defeat at home Wednesday to No. 25 Ursinus (8-6, 4-4 CC). After a scoreless first period, the Bears scored in each of the final three stanzas to take the road victory.
The Fords did well to deal with some offensive challenges early from the Bears, as Darby was called into action to make her first save of the contest in the sixth minute. Haverford earned its first corner in the 10th minute, and Zoey Despines put a shot on frame that Adriana Palladinetti was able to deny. Holly Vincent fired a shot on cage in the 12th minute, but Haverford was still looking for the opening goal. Just moments before the end of the first quarter, the hosts successfully defended another corner from the Bears.
Ursinus looked strong with consecutive corners in the opening moments of the second frame, but the Fords did well to keep the pressure on the visitors, denying a pair of shots from Maire Brainard before Maeve Montgomery saw her 23rd minute attempt sail wide of the goal. Just moments before the end of the first half, Ursinus got on the board to open the scoring as Regan Horting was in perfect position after a scrum in front of the cage, poking in a loose ball for her first goal of the season.
Just moments into the second half, Ursinus lit the lamp again, this time off a third-consecutive penalty corner. Maeve Montgomery sent a pass across the circle to Brainard, who rocketed home her sixth goal of the year. Haverford proved it was not done yet, getting on the scoreboard after knocking on the doorstep to begin the final stanza. Naomi York inserted a penalty corner that found the stick of Allison Cubell, Cubell found Holly Vincent with an entry pass and Vincent tallied her second goal of the season.
Unfortunately for Haverford, Ursinus scored on its very next offensive possession, taking advantage of a quick restart and sprinting down the field with Brainard grabbing her seventh of the season. Darby was tested with consecutive shots off the stick of Mary Lauren Franz, but the Fords held strong to keep the deficit at just two, giving the offense a fighting chance down the stretch.
York had a strong look just in front of the cage in the 53rd minute, and Haverford earned a last-ditch penalty corner in the 58th minute, but Ursinus did enough to keep the Fords at bay, taking the road win under the lights. Ursinus held a slight 16-14 edge in shots, while holding a 14-8 edge in penalty corners. Palladinetti made four saves between the pipes to pick up the win, while Darby added four in a tough-luck loss.
Brainard was key offensively for the Bears, putting three shots on goal and tallying twice to lead all scorers. Despines and Vincent each had two shots on frame for the Fords.
Haverford now jumps back into Centennial Conference play on the road, traveling to McDaniel for a 6 p.m. contest on Saturday evening in Westminster, Maryland. The contest is Haverford's final regular season road matchup before ending the slate at home with two more home games next week.