HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's soccer team clinched home field advantage in the Centennial Conference Tournament for the fourth time in six seasons with a 2-1 victory on Thursday afternoon against Muhlenberg. The Fords (11-4, 7-1 CC) got a pair of goals from Nick Jannelli to pace the victory over the visiting Mules (6-8-2, 2-5-1 CC).
With the latest win, the Fords have now won eight straight matches heading into the regular season finale against Swarthmore. This current winning streak is tied for the sixth longest in program history. The Fords have also won 24 straight Centennial Conference home matches during the regular season and are unbeaten in 25 straight dating back to the 2013 season.
Setting the tone early, Haverford scored just 96 seconds into regulation time as Peter Baroff beat his defender to the end line and found Jannelli waiting at the six for a finish to the near post. Baroff's assist was his third helper this season. Coupled with his five goals, the junior forward now has 13 points through the team's first 15 matches. Eight of those points (3 goals, 2 assists) have come during Centennial Conference play.
Jannelli added his second goal of the contest during the 57th minute on a penalty kick, making him 8-for-9 on penalty kicks throughout his career. The junior forward now has seven multi-goal games during his career and is leading the Centennial Conference in goals (11) and points (28), while ranking second in assists (6). His sixth game-winning goal of the season is also tops in the conference and just one shy of the school record set by Sam Yarosh '16 and Will Corkery '17 during the Fords' 2015 Elite Eight run. Jannelli's totals in goals (7), points (13), and game-winning goals (4) are also the best marks in the conference during Centennial matchups.
Also continuing his climb up the College's career record books, Jannelli broke the school record for game-winning goals with the 13th of his career. His 32 career goals are just one behind Yarosh and Rob Shakur '91 for 12th in program history. Jannelli's 77 career points tied him with Yarosh for 13th in school history.
Muhlenberg got its only goal of the afternoon when the Mules were awarded a penalty kick just over 10 minutes later. Kevin Irving converted that chance for the visitors to bring the contest back to a single goal difference with just 22:54 to play in regulation. Nevertheless, Haverford goalie Michael Iacono would make three of his five saves in that remaining time to prevent Muhlenberg from tying the contest.
Men's soccer will wrap up the regular season this Saturday at Hood Trophy rival Swarthmore. The contest will get underway at 4 p.m. With a bye into the Centennial Conference semifinals, the Fords will await the winner of the first round matchup next week. The semifinals and championship matches on Walton Field are slated for Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4. Times and opponents will be finalized following the conclusion of the regular season this weekend.