HAVERFORD, Pa. – After making the Centennial Conference Tournament in 2018, the Haverford College men's lacrosse team has released another challenging slate of games for the upcoming 2019 season. The Fords will host nine games on Swan Field this coming spring under newly-appointed head coach Nick Taylor. Of the Fords' 15 contests, six will be against teams who played in the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
A familiar face will lead off the 2019 schedule as the Fords open with Cabrini (Feb. 16) for the seventh straight season. The Cavaliers advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round a season ago. Haverford's home opener is set for Wednesday, February 20 against Gwynedd Mercy. Haverford is 3-0 all-time in the series which began in 2015. Haverford will also host NCAA qualifier Eastern on Saturday, February 23. The Fords are 6-2 all-time against the Eagles and have won the last two meetings in the series. Haverford closes the month of February with a trip to Stockton (Feb. 27). Haverford has also won two straight in this series and is 15-2 all-time against the Ospreys.
Swan Field will be the place to be in March if you want to see the men's lacrosse team in action as five of the Fords' six games will be on their home turf. Up first will be a March 2 battle with Randolph-Macon. Haverford is 2-6 all-time against RMC, but has won the only home contest (2016) in that series. The last three contests have each been decided by two goals or less. Haverford wraps up non-conference action with NCAA qualifiers Kenyon (Mar. 9) and Stevens (Mar. 16). The Fords will meet Kenyon for the first time since 1995, while Haverford is 4-3 all-time against Stevens but looking to snap a three-game skid against the Ducks. Stevens advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
Haverford begins Centennial Conference play on March 23 by hosting McDaniel. The Fords are 11-5 since 2005 against the Green Terror and looking to avenge a road defeat during the 2018 season. Muhlenberg comes to town on March 27. The Fords have won four straight against the Mules and are 19-5 all-time. Haverford will also host Gettysburg in a rematch of last year's Centennial Conference semifinal (Apr. 13). The Bullets advanced to the NCAA Final Four after defeating the Fords 7-5 in the conference tournament. Haverford will also host Swarthmore (Apr. 27) to close the regular season slate. The Fords defeated the Garnet last year to clinch a playoff spot which has been on the line each of the last three times these teams met. The Fords are 27-18 all-time against Swarthmore and hold a 16-6 advantage in the home contests.
Road trips around the Centennial Conference will include Franklin & Marshall (Mar. 30), Dickinson (Apr. 6), Washington College (Apr. 13), and Ursinus (Apr. 20). Dickinson is the defending Centennial Conference Champion and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight last season while the Diplomats also made the conference tournament in 2018. Haverford's key 9-7 victory over Washington was just its fourth over the Shoremen in program history as that night contest always seems to bring out the best in both sides. Haverford has won two straight against Ursinus, but needed overtime in 2017 and won by just two goals last spring. The Fords are 12-5 all-time against the Bears.
Haverford went 7-8 overall last season with a 4-4 record in Centennial Conference contests. The Fords made their first Centennial Conference Tournament appearance since the 2011 season, qualifying for the conference playoffs for the seventh time in school history. Haverford graduated 13 players from last year's team, but returns five starters. That includes second-team All-Centennial Conference goalie Dylan Slack and honorable mention All-CC middie Ben Frost. Both Frost and Stephen DeLeo tied for the team lead with 21 goals scored during the 2018 season.