COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Using a fast offensive start before hanging on strong with a tough defensive approach, the Haverford College women's lacrosse team got past host Ursinus by a final score of 10-9 at Patterson Field on Saturday afternoon. The Fords were paced by Allie Gibbons and Julia Manetta who combined for five of the squad's 10 total goals on the day.
The defense was vital in a second half that featured only four total goals, keeping Ursinus at bay in the final seconds as a potential game-tying shot in the last moments of regulation sailed wide for the Bears. Haverford improves to 6-8 (2-5 CC) with the win while Ursinus is now 7-7 (4-3 CC) in defeat.
The Fords got out to a quick 5-1 lead, scoring five unanswered goals after the Bears got on the scoreboard first with a counter-attack goal from Abby Goldstein. Julia Manetta tallied twice in the run, which also featured goals from Maeve Gaffney, Eliza Brosgol and Shannon Rafsol. Ursinus called for timeout, down 5-1 with 15:20 left in the first period of action, in an attempt to stop the momentum of Haverford.
Ursinus tightened the scoreline to 5-3 as Lindsey Grabell and Franchesa Liberatoscioli found the back of the cage. Amy Kohout made it a one score game at 5-4 with 9:38 left in the half.
The final nine minutes and 30 seconds of action saw six goals total as Kate Sollee restored a two-goal lead for the Fords with 9:19 remaining. Liberatoscioli tightened things up to a one-goal game before Allie Gibbons punched in her 44th goal of the season for a 7-5 Haverford lead.
Lindsey Grabell and Emily DiGiorgio joined the scoresheet with goals at 3:00 and 1:54 remaining, respectively, as Ursinus briefly tied the contest before Gibbons' 45th of the season sent the Fords to the halftime break in the lead.
After the intermission, Gibbons scored again, completing the hat-trick with an assist from Sarina Manetta at the 24:58 mark of the second half. The Fords would take a three-goal advantage at the 18:32 mark as the Manetta sisters teamed up for a goal. Sarina took the feed from Julia to give Haverford some breathing room and the largest lead for the visitors since a 5-2 lead early in the first half.
After more than seven minutes without a goal from either side, Ursinus tallied free-position strikes from DiGiorgio and Kaci McNeave with 11:25 and 4:15 remaining as the Fords were forced into yet another one-goal contest in the waning minutes of action.
Haverford controlled possession in the final goings, tallying two shots off free-position attempts but retaining control of the ball. With 12 seconds left, Ursinus forced a turnover from Gibbons and had one last charge in an attempt to tie the score.
After a foul at midfield, Ursinus shot just ahead of the buzzer, getting a good look from DiGiorgio that skipped wide of the cage. The ball went out of bounds, allowing Haverford to take possession with one second remaining and sealing a road win for the Fords.
Tatiana Lathion and Rachel Romens each played a half in goal, with Lathion making three saves and Romens picking up two. Eliza Brosgol had a career-best four draw controls while Alyssa Sherman and Madison Jones each scooped up two ground balls.
Kohut controlled five draws for Ursinus while Kaitlyn France made seven saves over 60 minutes in goal for the Bears.
Haverford has now won three straight contests over Ursinus, and five of the last six meetings between the two programs dating back to 2012. Haverford has now won four straight in Collegeville, also dating back to 2012.
Off the heels of a conference victory, Haverford will be back in action on Wednesday. The Fords make the short trip to Bryn Mawr for a 4:30 p.m. opening draw with the Owls.