HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team checks in at No. 23 in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) weekly Division III poll, the organization announced on Monday. Haverford (6-2, 1-0 CC) sits at No. 23 for the second straight week of competition.
Centennial foe Gettysburg (7-0, 1-0 CC) remains the unanimous number one selection in the poll, while Washington and Lee (7-2), Mary Washington (9-1), Salisbury (7-1), and Middlebury (4-1) make up the top five teams in the ranking. Franklin & Marshall sits in sixth (6-2).
Haverford has sprinted out to a hot start, with a win against then-No. 3 TCNJ in February helping to set the tone. Haverford's two losses this season have come to teams currently ranked in the Top 25, No. 20 Scranton, and No. 24 Skidmore.
The Fords torrid pace has been helped by an offensive effort that ranks as the 13th-most prolific in Division III. Haverford has averaged 17.13 goals per game. The Fords currently are racking up the second-most assists per contest in the nation, with 11.63 helpers per game. Junior Julia Manetta (30 assists) and sophomore Julia Pascarella (23 assists) have each been a large part of that effort as the duo currently ranks sixth and 15th, respectively in the nation in total assists.
Sophopmore goalkeeper Amelia Slade is also 14th in the nation in total saves between the pipes with 93, and is in the top 30 in saves per game (11.63).
The Fords dispatched McDaniel by a 14-9 final on Saturday in the conference opener on Swan Field. Senior Allie Gibbons extended her Centennial Conference lead with four goals, finishing the day with 36 so far this season. Gibbons also matched a career best effort with five ground balls. Sophomores Belle McMahon and Hailey Morris each notched a career-best three goals, while junior Anna Meyers added five caused turnovers, also a career best for the junior and a feat that is tied for the second-best single game output in program history. Haverford's 18 caused turnovers in total tied for the fifth-most in program single-game history.
Haverford returns to action on Saturday with an anticipated matchup in Lancaster against No. 6 Franklin & Marshall. Last season, F&M came to Swan Field and narrowly escaped with a one-goal victory. Opening draw is slated for noon in The Red Rose City.