HAVERFORD, Pa. - Senior Shannon Horn registered several big saves including two in the final minute to help the Haverford College women's lacrosse team register a 9-8 victory over visiting Stevenson University in non-conference action at Swan Field on Wednesday night.
The Fords (2-1) jumped out to a 3-1 lead after 11 minutes of play on two goals by Diana Perry and one by Christina Gould. After the Mustangs (1-4) moved within one with 19 minutes to go in the first half, Perry and Gould scored back-to-back goals to extend the hosts' advantage to three goals (5-2) with 13 minutes to go until the break.
Two straight goals from junior Hannah Morgan in a four-minute span provided Haverford with its largest lead of the opening stanza with 1:36 remaining on the first-half clock.
Stevenson's leading scorer Kathryn Merrick looked to give her squad some momentum going into halftime when the junior tallied her second of three on the night with under a minute remaining until intermission. Senior Megan Gallagher answered right back however just 34 seconds later to restore the Fords' four-goal advantage.
Gallagher picked up where she left off after the break as she opened the second-half scoring with her sixth of the season on a free position shot. The eventual game-winning goal was Haverford's only tally of the final 30 minutes as the Mustangs, the preseason favorite in the Commonwealth Conference, scored the final four goals of the game.
Looking to send the game into overtime, Stevenson gained possession twice in the final minute and a half and called timeout each time to design a play for the equalizer. Horn had other ideas however as she stood tall in the net to help the Fords pull out the narrow victory.
Perry led the Haverford attack with three goals while Gould, Morgan and Gallagher added two apiece.
Horn (2-0) was the difference-maker in the contest as she turned aside 12 Mustangs' offereings including several strong shots from close range.
Leanne Bittner (1-4) was also busy for Stevenson as she made 11 saves in the loss.
Haverford returns to action on March 9 when it takes on Bridgewater (Va.) College during a spring break trip to Clermont, Fla.