SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team scored five straight goals in the second half to take down host Swarthmore College, 17-14, and register its program-record seventh Centennial Conference victory of the season on Saturday afternoon at Clothier Field.
Breaking an 11-11 tie, the Fords (13-4, 7-2) began their seven-minute surge with Megan Gallagher's 33rd of the season off a look from Kenny Likes at 18:25. Gallagher struck again less than a minute later to give Haverford a two-goal cushion at 13-11.
Diana Perry continued the Fords' rapid-fire attack with her fourth of the day, and 58th of the season, at 16:55. Sophomore Dayna Kim then capped the run with back-to-back goals separated by three-plus minutes to give Haverford its largest lead of the afternoon.
Hoping to earn a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season, the Garnet (10-6, 4-5) fought back to score the next three goals but Gallagher answered with her career-high fifth of the contest to seal the Fords' program-record seventh conference victory of the 2013 campaign.
Swarthmore quickly opened the scoring in the game when Nicole Vanchieri tallied her 20th of the season less than a minute into play. The Garnet proceeded to score four of the next seven goals to go ahead 5-3 but Haverford rallied with the help of three straight from Perry to take a 9-7 lead at the break.
The initial three minutes of the second half saw the two rivals trade goals before Swarthmore scored three of the next four to tie the contest at 11-11.
Gallagher's career-high five goals give her nine goals in her last two outings. Perry, with four goals on the day, has now scored multiple goals in 19 consecutive games dating back to her freshman season. Perrin Downing, Hannah Morgan, Likes and Kim chipped in with two goals apiece.
Downing and Likes each finished with two assists while Grace Stockbower and Christina Gould had one.
Shannon Horn (12-4) made six saves to earn the win in goal.
Swarthmore's Annalise Penikis matched Gallagher with five goals and Corinne Sommi scored four.
Winning their 13th game of the year, the Fords tied the program record for overall victories in a season.
Haverford also picked up another point in this year's race for the Hood Trophy with the victory. The Fords moved out to a three-point advantage (8.5-5.5) in the friendly competition between the local rivals.
Finishing in third place in the Centennial standings, Haverford battles second-seeded Franklin & Marshall College (13-3, 8-1) on Saturday, May 4. The semifinal contest with the Diplomats, tied for sixth in this week's Division III national poll, will take place at top-seeded Gettysburg College.