HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford College Men's Soccer (3-3-7, 1-2-3 CC) earned its first Centennial Conference win Saturday, defeating McDaniel (4-5-4, 1-5 CC), 2-0 in a rain-soaked, heavily-spirited battle on Walton Field.
Gabe Knopf got things going quickly for the Fords in the third minute, recording the first shot of the contest, trying to one-time a bouncing pass from Tomas Ascoli, and missing just wide of the frame.
The Fords found themselves in another vital chance just six minutes later, when Ascoli served in a fantastic cross to the middle of the box. Joey Carol got a head to it, but the promising shot was turned away by McDaniel keeper Austin Heid. The next ten minutes saw the Scarlet and Black hammer the net again with shots coming from Andrew Fritz and Aidan Lacy, as well two more corner kicks by Ascoli.
Despite the chaos caused by the Haverford offense, the score would be deadlocked at zero at halftime, with the Fords holding a dominating lead in shots 12-4.
The 62nd minute saw the first breakthrough of the game, in favor of the Scarlet and Black. Lacy got onto a quick ground pass along the flank, and placed a teasing ball into the box. Ascoli got onto the end of it, kneed it up to himself, and vollied one past the keeper to give the Fords a 1-0 lead. The next ten minutes saw three headed shots on frame by Haverford, but all were denied by Heid.
With just over a minute to go in the game, the Fords got their ever-so-needed insurance goal from a magnificent pass. Haverford's Conrad Coyanda-Parkzes launched a ball forward from in front of the Green Terror bench. Lacy won the foot race with a McDaniel defender, and got onto the long pass. The first-year attacker then swiftly slashed to his left, moving around the keeper, and slotting one home to give the Scarlet and Black a 2-0 lead.
The second goal proved to be the final goal on the day, as Haverford defeated McDaniel 2-0. The Fords ended the matchup with a substantial 25-5 advantage in shots, and a 9-5 edge in corner kicks. Haverford goalkeeper Dylan Ioffreda wasn't called into action much, but finished the game with three saves.
Walton Field welcomes the Fords once again October 18, as men's soccer hosts the Bears of Ursinus at 4 p.m.