WHITTIER, Calif. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team exploded for 12 first-half goals on its way to a 14-12 non-conference victory over host Whittier College at Memorial Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Diana Perry was a key component of the impressive attack as the sophomore scored a career-high five goals in the initial 20 minutes of the contest.
The Poets (1-8) opened the scoring on the day with a goal in the first minute but Perry answered back less than two minutes later. Four more times over the opening 15 minutes of the game Whittier went ahead by one only to see the Fords (5-0) quickly come up with the equalizer.
Buoyed by five consecutive goals in a seven-minute span--three from Perry and one each from Hannah Morgan and Megan Gallagher--Haverford went ahead 9-5 with 7:25 left on the clock until the break.
Shaina Denny scored one of her six goals on the day to disrupt the Fords' surge but Haverford added three more goals over the closing four minutes of the half to take control of the contest. Dayna Kim, Grace Stockbower and Christina Gould provided the goals during the final scoring burst that resulted in a 12-6 advantage for the Fords at intermission.
The hosts scored the first two goals of the second stanza to creep within four but back-to-back goals from the stick of Perrin Downing restored Haverford's six-goal lead, 14-8, with 16 minutes to go in the game.
Eleven minutes of scoreless action ensued before the Poets closed the contest with a late flurry of goals in the final five minutes to account for the final score.
Perry's career-high effort led the way for the Fords but the supporting cast was deep as Morgan, Gallagher and Downing chipped in with two apiece. Senior Kenny Likes directed the offense to near perfection with four assists.
Downing was solid in all facets of the game as she registered four ground balls, two draw controls and three caused turnovers.
Shannon Horn (4-0) made six saves in almost 50 minutes of action before giving way to Margaret Perkoff and Megan Chenworth.
Denny earned game-high scoring honors with six goals while Carolyn Mukai and Meesha Robinson each added three for Whittier. Nicole Yorba (1-8) had a busy night in goal for the Poets with 11 saves.
Looking to continue its winning ways, Haverford returns to action on March 20 when it welcomes St. Mary's College of Maryland to Swan Field for a non-conference contest beginning at 7 p.m.