HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's soccer team climbed both national polls following a 2-0 week to close out the regular season. The Fords (11-3-3, 7-1 CC) are up to No. 17 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and No. 19 in the D3Soccer.com poll. The Fords were ranked 22nd and 21st in those respective polls a week ago.
Those two victories did not come easily as the Fords got the game-winning goal in overtime against Ursinus on a direct kick from Will Corkery that came 8:11 into the extra session for a 2-1 victory. Russell Nicholson provided the Fords' offense as he headed home a corner kick against Swarthmore with just over 14 minutes remaining in regulation for a 1-0 win that ultimately clinched home field advantage for the Centennial Conference Tournament.
The Fords will now serve as hosts of the conference tournament for third time in four seasons after finishing the regular season with the best conference record. Haverford is slotted to play in the first semifinal on Saturday where it will await the winner of fourth-seeded Washington College and fifth-seeded Dickinson. Second-seeded Franklin & Marshall and third-seeded Johns Hopkins will battle in the second semifinal on Walton Field this week. The championship match is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Haverford has played for the Centennial Conference Championship in four of its five seasons under head coach Shane Rineer. The Fords won tournament titles in 2012 and 2015. The Fords will be looking to become just the second school to repeat as conference champions (Johns Hopkins 2006-07) since the tournament's inception in 2001. Haverford's .727 winning percentage in the conference tournament is the best mark in the Centennial Conference.
In addition to the national polls released this week, the NCAA will release its third regional rankings on Wednesday. The Fords were No. 4 in the first two regional ranking polls that have been released.