HAVERFORD, Pa. - A dominating second-half performance helped the Haverford College men's soccer team upend 21st-ranked Franklin & Marshall College, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon in Centennial Conference action at Walton Field.
The Fords (9-4-1, 3-2-1 CC) and Diplomats (9-3-2, 2-3-1) entered the contest tied in the conference standings and after the first 45 minutes of play the two squads were tied, appropriately enough, on the scoreboard at 1-1.
Senior David Robinson made sure the deadlock did not last long as he chipped the ball to a streaking Tejan Walcott in the opening minute of second-half action. Tallying the eventual game-winner, Walcott fired the ball past F&M goalie T.J. White (9-3-2) from close range for the third goal of his career.
Haverford was not finished as it continued to apply sustained pressure on the Diplomats. An effective mix of speed and determination by the Fords produced seven of the next 10 shots of the game and kept the Dips on their heels.
Sophomore Colin Seitz caught the tired F&M defense out of position and he alertly pushed the ball ahead to the hard-charging Ford Bohrmann. The lead pass sent Bohrmann in alone on White and Haverford's leading scorer did not disappoint as he deposited his eighth of the season into the net in the 67th minute. Bohrmann's insurance goal sealed the Fords' third consecutive win over the Dips.
Robinson had given Haverford, the defending conference champion, an early lead in the contest when he scored his first goal of the season off a nice look from Brady Seitz in the sixth minute of play. Sam Yarosh almost gave the hosts a two-goal advantage in the 19th minute but a team save kept the ball out out of the net. The Diplomats evened the score a little over six minutes later on an unassisted tally by Connor Finn after Haverford goalie Sam Miller (2-1-1) had turned away a penalty kick attempt by Sam Lane.
Scoring three goals on White, the Centennial leader in save percentage (.861) and shutouts (eight), was no small feat as F&M's junior goalie entered the contest with the seventh-best goals against average in the nation. The Diplomats, ranked third nationally in goals against average (0.37), had only given up five goals in 13 games before they encountered the Fords on Saturday.
Eleven second-half shots resulted in Haverford outshooting F&M by a narrow margin in the contest (15-13).
Finishing with six saves, Miller has been solid in four consecutive starts. White made four saves in the loss.
The Fords' push for a Centennial playoff spot continues Wednesday night at Ursinus College at 7:30 p.m. Haverford and the Bears (7-6-1, 3-2-1) are currently involved in a four-way tie for second in the tight conference standings.