NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team (4-3) secured a thrilling victory at No. 15 Christopher Newport (6-2) with a narrow 9-8 win on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Jennings Stadium in Hampton Roads.
First-year goalkeeper Lizzie Symonds showcased exceptional skill for the Fords, making 11 crucial saves and collecting two ground balls. Her outstanding performance continuously thwarted the Captains' offense, allowing Haverford's offense to do just enough for the win, led by Brooke Epstein's four goals and Tiffany Mikulis' three. Additionally, Abby Bonner and Sophie Jaffe contributed goals for the Fords. Lizzie Healy and Eva Baumann each also scooped two ground balls, while Kylie McNamara matched Mikulis with four draw controls.
Although Christopher Newport held the advantage in ground balls and clears, Haverford maintained a 14-7 advantage on the draws, which proved instrumental in setting the tone of the game.
The Fords, receiving votes in the latest IWLCA poll, took an early lead after the opening draw, with Brooke Epstein finding the back of the net in the first minute following a key save by Lizzie Symonds. Christopher Newport responded with two consecutive goals, but Haverford equalized with a Tiffany Mikulis free-position goal with 4:09 left in the first quarter.
Mikulis' goal sparked a 4-0 run for the Fords, with Sophie Jaffe, Epstein, and Bonner all lighting up the scoreboard, giving Haverford a 5-2 lead. Christopher Newport narrowed the gap with two goals, making it a one-goal game. However, Mikulis extended Haverford's lead to 6-4 with 5:25 remaining in the first half.
The teams entered halftime with the visitors clinging to a narrow one-goal lead. In a defensive third quarter, Mikulis scored again to give Haverford a 7-5 advantage. Despite a goal from CNU's Sloane McDonald, Epstein's unassisted goal maintained Haverford's lead at 8-6 heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Symonds made crucial saves to deny Christopher Newport's scoring opportunities. A turnover caused by Eva Baumann led to instant offense for the Fords, as Epstein's unassisted strike extended their lead to 8-7. Haverford's defense, led by Baumann and Lizzie Healy, maintained extremely tight pressure, and Symonds denied another free-position shot with 2:58 remaining.
However, Christopher Newport managed to score a goal from a free-position with 1:13 left, narrowing the gap to one goal in the waning moments. The ensuing draw was critical, and although Christopher Newport won possession, Haverford regained the ball after an offensive foul. A turnover with four seconds left gave Christopher Newport one last chance with just four seconds left. Nevertheless, Haverford's defense stood strong, denying the Captains a shot and securing the Fords' first ranked win since defeating No. 22 Christopher Newport on March 9, 2022.
Following the victory, the Women's Lacrosse team will have a week off to prepare for conference play. The CC opener is scheduled for noon on Saturday, March 23, against Dickinson on Swan Field.