WESTMINSTER, Md. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team improved to 6-1 on the season with a convincing 20-11 win in the Centennial Conference opener against the host Green Terror of McDaniel on Saturday afternoon. Olivia DiRienz and Rina Rosnow each had four goals for the Fords while Allie Gibbons and Kate Sollee registered three goals apiece in the victory. Rachel Romens improves to 5-0 in goal after making 11 saves, a new career high for the senior goalkeeper.
Haverford took a 16-6 lead into the halftime intermission and was able to preserve the big lead as much of the second half was played with a running clock with Haverford holding a 10-goal advantage. McDaniel falls to 4-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference play in defeat.
The 6-1 mark is the best start for Haverford since the 2010 team began the season 7-0 en route to a 13-5 overall record and a berth in the Centennial Conference semifinals. Haverford's five game winning streak is the longest since the Fords won five straight from February 27 to March 15 of the 2013 campaign.
McDaniel scored the first two goals of the contest, as Megan Quattrone and Emily Brownawell each converted in the the early goings, putting the Fords into an early hole. Haverford responded with a 9-0 run to take a 9-2 lead with 14:21 remaining, as DiRienz tallied three times in the stretch. Gibbons took a feed from Rosnow for Haverford's ninth goal of the contest as Haverford built up breathing room halfway through the opening stanza.
The Green Terror scored twice in rapid succession, with Quattrone and Abby Blankenship finding the back of the net within the course of just over 20 seconds, but Haverford responded with a 3-0 run, extending the lead to 12-4 with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
Rosnow scored twice at the end of the first half, tallying with 2:24 remaining and again at the 1:20 mark as Haverford took the 10 goal lead into the intermission. The Fords opened up the second half with goals from Molly Lausten and Sollee for a 12 goal lead at 18-6.
Julia Pascarella scored with 7:55 to play in the second, off an assist from Hailey Morris, and Morris also teamed up with Julia Manetta for the final Haverford goal with 2:30 to play in regulation. Haverford reached the 20-goal mark for the first time the season after achieving the feat twice in 2017.
Rosnow added two caused turnovers to her four-goal afternoon while scooping two ground balls. Anna Meyers had two ground balls and added three draw controls in a well-rounded effort. Sarah Svetec led the way for the Fords with four draw controls.
Brownawell and Olivia Geiger had four goals each for the Green Terror. Lindsey Farrell won eight draw control for McDaniel. Elizabeth Collyer and Nikki Francis each played a half in goal, combining for eight saves in 60 minutes.
The Fords will now return home for a late afternoon contest on Wednesday, March 28 against Eastern, with the opening draw slated for 5 p.m. Conference play continues on Saturday, March 31 as No. 8 Franklin & Marshall comes to Swan Field for a noon game time.