LANCASTER, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team used a goal in each half to record a Centennial Conference victory Saturday night at Franklin & Marshall, 2-0. The Fords (8-2-1, 1-2-1 CC) got a goal from Jo Haller in the first half and the first career goal of Grace Mathis' career in the second half to emerge victorious against the host Diplomats (3-7-1, 1-4-0 CC).
The Fords opened the game with an impressive first half that saw them outshoot Franklin & Marshall by a 9-0 margin. Additionally, the Fords held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks during the first 45 minutes of play. The constant attacking pressure from the Fords broke through in the 34th minute of play. Haller opened the scoring as she took a cross from Anna Dekle and snuck her shot under the crossbar. Haller's tally was her sixth of the season, four of those have been game winners. Dekle's assist was the first of her season to go along with the three goals that she has scored.
Haller had another run at goal just over six minutes after she got her team on the scoreboard, but saw that attempt saved as the Fords took their 1-0 edge into the break. After going untested in the first half, Kathy Prescott saw more action in front of her own net during the second half as the hosts tallied five shots during that time.
Despite Franklin & Marshall's increased activity on the offensive end, it was Haverford that scored early in the second half to go up 2-0. Taking her first career goal in unassisted fashion, Mathis beat the Diplomats' keeper to the right side of the frame just over eight minutes into the half for her team's insurance goal.
That save would be more than enough offense for the Haverford defense which needed just one save from Prescott during the 87th minute of play on Saturday. Prescott made that save before Ali Weiner came on with 3:47 to play and finish off the shutout bid.
The Fords finished the contest with an 11-5 edge in shots. Katie Safter and Ali Lopez, along with the goal scorer Haller, each took three shots for the night. Mathis scored on her only shot attempt of the evening, while Skyler Ellenburg also recorded a shot.
Women's soccer will return home to Walton Field for a pair of Centennial Conference matches this week. Up first will be a matchup with Muhlenberg on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Johns Hopkins will also make a trip to campus next Saturday.