HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford women's lacrosse team (10-6, 6-3 CC) defeated the Swarthmore College Garnet (5-11, 1-8 CC) by a score of 11-9 on Saturday, the team's Senior Day. After the win, the Centennial Conference playoff schedule was set as Haverford will be hosting Dickinson College on Wednesday in the first round.
Elyse Adler, who scored a career-high six goals in the team's previous game, continued to have the hot hand. Adler again led the Fords in scoring, this time with five goals. The senior is on a roll, scoring 11 goals with her last 13 shots between the two games. She now has 31 goals this season, tied with sophomore Molly Lausten for most on the team.
For as good as Adler was on offense, the defensive effort led by Ali Weiner completely shut down the Garnet's leading scorer, Lizzie Kolln, who was held pointless and shotless with one turnover. Kolln entered the game fourth in the conference in scoring.
Adler scored the first goal of the game three minutes into regulation after an assist from Christina Gould, who would later assist another. After Lausten scored two in a row, the Fords found themselves with an early 3-0 lead.
The two teams then traded goals for the next stretch, including Adler's second goal and then scores from Rina Rosnow and Annie Kelly. All three were assisted by Sarina Manetta who finished the game with the team lead in groundballs (four) and draw controls (six). Swarthmore soon had answers, though, and scored four consecutive goals to tie the game at six by the half.
Head coach Lauren Wray made some solid halftime coaching points and Haverford came out of the break with five straight goals to take control of the game, aided by a 9-0 shutout in draws in the second frame. Kelly scored her second of the game on a free position shot and then Adler struck twice more (both via Allie Gibbons). Gould scored the next and then assisted Adler's fifth goal, giving her three points for the tenth time this season.
In net, senior Megan Chenworth was rock solid as she saved 12 shots, her most saves since the Fords' win over Cabrini (March 11).
Senior Isabella Bertagna contributed two groundballs, a draw control, and two caused turnovers.
"I'm so proud of each of our six seniors," Wray said after the game. "They have all contributed so much to our program over the past four years both on and off the field. Not only are they great players but they are fantastic people and leaders. They have left a great legacy on the program and they will be greatly missed next season."
Wray's team has now made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. This marks the second time the team has qualified for the postseason in back-to-back years since 1989.
The Fords will take on Dickinson this Wednesday in the first round of the Centennial Conference playoffs. The game time has not yet been set. Haverford defeated the Red Devils at home this year, 8-7.