CARLISLE, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team took a big leap towards another postseason appearance with a resounding 4-0 win at Dickinson on Saturday night. The Fords (8-5-2, 5-2-1 CC) and Red Devils (10-4-1, 4-3-1 CC) came into the night tied for the fifth and final playoff spot in the conference tournament. However, with the Fords' win and other results around the Centennial Conference, Haverford will enter the final week of the regular season in sole possession of fourth place in the conference with second place just three points ahead of them.
As has been the theme all season during the team's wins, it was a collective effort as four different players scored during the conference victory. Anna Dekle put the Fords on top just 5:07 into regulation. That would be the score heading into the break despite an 8-3 edge in shots from Haverford during the first 45 minutes. Haverford added its insurance goals from Sydney West, Grace Mathis, and Saede Eifrig during the second half as the Fords put an exclamation point on their victory with a 20-4 final advantage in shots.
Dekle's goal just over five minutes into the contest made her the seventh player on this year's team with multiple goals. Katie Safter set up that eventual game-winning goal with her first assist of the season. Dekle now has 11 goals, including three game-winners, during her collegiate career. Five saves from Dickinson goalie Mary Katherine Brosnan during the first half kept the game within reach for the time being. The Red Devils keeper finished the match with a total of 13 saves, while Haverford goalie Julie Hanss was called on for just two saves in her seventh solo shutout of the season, the team's eighth.
West opened the scoring in the second half as she scored just 50:32 into that period. Her goal came when she beat the goalie off her own corner kick insert to make the score 2-0. With that curving goal, West became the 13th different player to record a goal for Haverford so far this season. Her goal was the first of her collegiate career and gives her five points on the year as she is currently the team leader with four assists.
Mathis and Eifrig both recorded their third goals this season to continue their tie for the team lead. Both scoring unassisted, Mathis made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute before Eifrig capped the victory with her goal during the 79th minute. With two games remaining in the regular season, Mathis has matched her career best goal total from a year ago and has a team-leading nine points with her three assists this fall. Eifrig has a total of eight points in her rookie campaign for the Fords.
Women's soccer will wrap up the regular season next week against their fellow Tri-Co institutions. The Fords will make the quick trip to Bryn Mawr on Tuesday with that match set for a 4 p.m. start. Haverford will wrap up the regular season at home next Saturday against Swarthmore at 1 p.m. The matchup with the third-place Garnet will also be Senior Day for the nine members of the Fords' graduating class.