TOWSON, Md. – The Haverford College men's soccer team got its season started off on a positive note with a 3-1 win on the road against Goucher Sunday afternoon. The Fords (1-0) scored three unanswered goals to seal the victory, while also handing the Gophers (1-1) their first loss in the early portion of the season.
The Fords definitely made the most of their offensive opportunities in the season opener. Haverford held an 11-7 edge in total shots, along with a 4-3 margin in its favor in shots on goal. The Fords connected on all but one of those shots on goal during the victory.
Haverford faced some adversity early when the Gophers' Salta Lashaw found the back of the net with a shot that he stuck in the lower left hand corner of the net. That goal came just 3:30 into the contest, but Haverford rebounded nicely after the initial tally.
Colin Seitz provided the answer for Haverford with a goal in the 21st minute of play. After capitalizing on a Goucher giveaway in the defensive third, Seitz buried his low shot in the back of the net, knotting the score at 1-1. Haverford's first goal of the season also ended up being the final goal of the opening half as the teams each recorded five shots over the opening 45 minutes.
The second half saw Haverford hold a 6-2 advantage in shots over the final 45 minutes and that edge was reflected on the final scoreboard. Brady Seitz provided the Fords' go-ahead goal in the 71st minute of play. The second goal of the Seitz connection was finished in the upper right hand corner. Brady Seitz's first goal of the season was the 10th of his career.
Just under 10 minutes after taking its first lead of the day, the Fords added an insurance goal in the 81st minute off the foot of Tejan Walcott. Walcott finished his goal off a rebound to the left side of net, giving Haverford the 3-1 lead that held up at the game's final buzzer. Both Colin Seitz's and Walcott's goals were the sixth of their Haverford careers.
In goal, junior Sam Miller picked up the win as he faced three shots on goal during the game, making two saves for the day. He was replaced by Chris Gibson with just under two minutes to play. Gibson went unchallenged during his time in goal to finish out the game.
Men's soccer opens up its home schedule next Saturday when William Paterson comes to Haverford. The home opener for the squad is set for 1 p.m. as part of the Jimmy Mills Tournament. The Fords will also battle Rutgers-Newark next Sunday on Walton Field to conclude the tournament.