HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team was well represented as the Centennial Conference released its all-conference team on Thursday. The Fords had two first-team nominees in Raina Fitzpatrick and Taylor Cross, along with honorable mention selections Skyler Ellenburg and Katie Safter. With the exception of Safter, each of these selections marked a career first for the honored Fords.
Haverford's first-team honorees represent the program's first since Meg Boyer '14 and Elizabeth Newman '14 were first-team honorees together during the 2013 season. This year marks just the ninth time in program history that Haverford has had multiple selections to the first team. The Fords had a total of four players represented for the second straight season. The last time Haverford had more than four honorees came during the 2011 season.
Taylor Cross was the anchor of a Haverford backline all season as she did not leave the field for a single second. Starting all 18 matches, Cross stabilized a defense that recorded nine shutouts this season. A team captain, she helped the Fords play at their best in conference matches as the team allowed just 0.84 goals against average in Centennial Conference play. Completely thwarting attacks all year long, Cross was named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week on one occasion and helped Haverford outshot its opposition in 15 of the team's 18 matches.
Raina Fitzpatrick was also a first-team All-Centennial Conference selection. The senior appeared in 17 matches, making 13 starts in the midfield for the Fords. Part of a diversified attack, she was one of nine players on the team who scored at least two goals. Her first goal of the season proved to be the difference in Haverford's 1-0 win at Franklin & Marshall before backing that up with a second goal during the victory against Widener. She recorded at least one shot in 11 different contests.
Skyler Ellenburg was named an honorable mention All-Centennial Conference selection for the first time in her career and was additionally honored as a member of the Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team. She played in 16 contests for the Fords, starting 15 in the midfield. Another one of Haverford's nine players with at least two goals this season, Ellenburg added three assists to the team as she ranked third on the squad with seven points. Her goals came in back-to-back Centennial Conference victories against Gettysburg and Washington College. Her three assists also came in Centennial Conference matches as she helped out on goals against Frankin & Marshall, Dickinson, and Bryn Mawr.
Katie Safter was also an honorable mention All-Centennial Conference selection during her junior season. A team captain, Safter's recognition is the third time she has been named All-Centennial Conference with second-team honors last fall and honorable mention accolades during her rookie campaign. She was limited to just 10 games, making nine starts, but was still one of Haverford's multiple goal scorers despite playing along the backline. She was instrumental on the field in three of Haverford's shutouts and scored goals in the victories over Bryn Mawr and York (Pa.). She also recorded an assist during the Fords' win at Dickinson.
Women's soccer went 9-6-3 overall, with a 6-2-2 record in Centennial Conference play. That record earned the Fords a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament for the second straight season, this time as the No. 3 seed. With a first round bye, the team made its first trip to the Centennial Conference semifinals since the 2013 season which ended in an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.