HAVERFORD, Pa. – Leanne Ludwick's header with 27 seconds remaining in the second overtime period got the Haverford College women's soccer team off to a 1-0 start in Centennial Conference play on Wednesday night. Finishing what was most likely going to be the final scoring chance for either team on the evening, Ludwick's header on a cross from Saede Eifrig helped the Fords down Muhlenberg by a 2-1 score on Walton Field.
After leading the team in points during her rookie campaign, Ludwick picked the perfect time to record her first goal of the 2017 campaign. Ludwick's goal marked the first game-winning tally of the sophomore's career and was Eifrig's first career assist. Eifrig currently leads Haverford with five points on the season.
Haverford also opened the scoring on Wednesday but it took until the 73rd minute to do so. Hannah Krapes created the scoring chance off of her own attempt at a goal as her shot was saved by the Mules' keeper, who finished the night with 12 stops. However, the rebound bounced to Anna Dekle who finished just underneath the crossbar for her first goal of the season. That goal marked the 10th tally of the senior's career at Haverford.
Muhlenberg would not go away quietly, however. Just over eight minutes later, Mia Mulin grabbed possession in the midfield and fired a shot from just inside of the midfield stripe. Her shot also got under the crossbar and knotted the score at one. Alyssa Rose was credited with an assist on the play.
The Fords outshot Muhlenberg by an 11-9 margin in regulation time, but had a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal during that time. However, when the extra periods came along it was Haverford that was creating all the chances. The hosts had three shots in the first 10 minute overtime session, sending a shot high, seeing one saved, while another missed wide. The offensive pressure kept up in the second overtime session with three more shots, including two on goal, before Ludwick's heroics with the clock winding down.
Julie Hanss made two saves on the afternoon to pick up her third win of the season. Ludwick's goal came on her match-high fourth shot of the afternoon. Haverford finished the contest with an 18-9 advantage in shots after a 7-0 edge in its favor during the 19-plus minutes of overtime. Dekle, who scored the first goal, matched Ludwick with four shots during the contest.
Women's soccer will look to keep up its winning ways in Centennial Conference play as the Fords travel to Franklin & Marshall this Saturday. That match is scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m. in Lancaster.