Fords upend Rowan to remain unbeaten

Fords upend Rowan to remain unbeaten

HAVERFORD, Pa. - Diana Perry matched her career high with four goals to help the Haverford College women's lacrosse team remain unbeaten this season as the Fords edged visiting Rowan University, 10-9, in non-conference action at Swan Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Haverford (3-0) battled the Profs and the elements throughout the contest as the game was played under windy and rainy conditions brought on by Winter Storm Saturn.

A tightly-contested second half saw the two teams combine for 15 shots but manage just two goals apiece over the opening 20-plus minutes. Perry's last goal of the afternoon at 8:34 tied the game at 8-8. It would be the fourth and final deadlock of the day as a successful free position shot by Kenny Likes less than 30 seconds later put the Fords on top. Freshman Christina Gould then took advantage of her own free position opportunity at 6:14. Gould's fifth of the season capped a 3-0 run and became the eventual difference maker when Jamie Blondina brought Rowan within one at 4:47.

Haverford's defense stood tall as it controlled the ball and held the Profs to just two shots, both in the final minute, over the remainder of the game.

Rowan (0-3) broke out to a 2-0 lead in the first three and a half minutes of the contest but the hosts, undaunted by trailing for just the second time this season, struck back with two straight around the 20-minute mark. Perry (pictured) converted a feed from Perrin Downing to get the Fords on the scoreboard and Gould knotted the score at 2-2 on a great individual effort less than 30 seconds later.

The scoring burst by Haverford continued as Dayna Kim quickly followed Gould's tally with her fourth goal of the season to provide the Fords with their first lead of the day. Kim was not finished as she added another at 16:25 to give Haverford a two-goal cushion.

Over the next five minutes the Profs managed to pull within one on two occasions but each time Perry had the answer. Perry's second goal of the afternoon came on a free position shot at 14:21 and she notched her eighth goal of the season with 11 minutes remaining.

Rowan closed the half with a two-goal surge to account for a 6-6 tie at the break.

Likes delivered her third consecutive two-goal performance and also chipped in with an assist on Kim's second of the day. Finishing with two goals on two shots to register her second multi-goal game of 2013, Kim has already surpassed her goal scoring output from last season (four). Also proving to be a consistent scoring threat is Gould who finished with two goals for the second time in just her third collegiate game.

Blodina led Rowan's offense with four goals while Becca Wood added three.

Shannon Horn (2-0) made a career-high 10 saves including seven in the second half to pick up her second win of the season.

Lindsay Barrie (0-3) took the loss despite nine saves.

Warmer weather awaits the Fords as the squad heads to California for non-conference action over spring break. Haverford takes on Occidental College (4-2) in Los Angeles on March 13. The host Tigers, ranked 20th nationally in the preseason, were an NCAA tournament participant in 2012.