GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Haverford College's women's soccer team handed host Gettysburg College its first loss of the season as the Fords, winners of three straight, downed the Bullets, 2-1, in a thrilling double-overtime Centennial Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Clark Field.
Haverford (3-2-3, 1-0-1 CC) netted the game winner when a free kick from just outside the top, left of the box caromed off a Gettysburg (6-1-2, 2-1) defender in front of the goal and bounced up and over Bullets goalie Eliza Gray for the winning tally.
The Fords carried a 1-0 lead into the halftime break courtesy of Elizabeth Newman's penalty kick conversion at the 14:08 mark of the first half following a Gettysburg foul in the box.
The second half opened with Haverford generating the first four shots but Gray saved the first two and the next two were wide of the mark.
Gettysburg found the equalizer in the 63rd minute using a header from Georgia Ferguson to tie the game.
Each team generated scoring chances over the remaining 27 minutes of regulation but neither would break the deadlock, sending the contest into extra time.
Haverford seemed to have the edge in the first overtime, getting off three shots forcing Gray to come up with a stop on the one that made it onto goal, but the Fords couldn't break through. Gettysburg got off one shot but it was wide of the frame.
The Bullets had the initial chance to end the game in the second extra period but Tara Crowley's shot was wide only 37 seconds into the period.
Haverford moved down field, generating pressure to the left of the goal which caused a Gettysburg foul at the 3:37 mark. The free kick from just outside the box was a low, line-drive that skipped off the turf before deflecting off a defender and ricocheting over Gray and just under the crossbar for the game-winner.
The two teams accumulated similar shot totals over the 103 minutes of action but Haverford was able to get seven shots on goal while Gettysburg only tested Fords goalie Robin Chernow twice.
Haverford will complete the non-conference portion of its schedule with its next outing, a home game Wednesday afternoon against visiting Moravian College.