HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey team fell to visiting Dickinson College, 4-2, in Centennial Conference action Saturday afternoon at Swan Field despite a dominating final 30 minutes of play.
Playing through a near-constant rain, Dickinson (6-9, 4-4 CC) held a 2-0 lead at the intermission and increased the margin to three early in the second half on their second shot in the stanza. From that point on, Haverford (6-9, 4-4 CC) held the better of play outshooting the visitors 12-1 until the final horn.
Unfortunately for the Fords, Dickinson's only other shot in the half, 20 minutes after their third score, also found the back of the goal, pushing the score to 4-0.
Haverford stepped up their offensive pressure even more and finally broke through the wall that Red Devil goalie Amanda West had constructed as Josie Ferri got the Fords on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal in the 61st minute. Teammate Juliana Morgan-Trostle trimmed the lead to just two with another unassisted goal four minutes later.
A field that was definitely tilted toward the Dickinson goal increased its slope in the final five minutes when a Red Devil was assessed both a yellow and red card forcing the visitors to finish out the game a player down.
The Fords, however, weren't able to complete the comeback as West saved the last few Haverford shots on the Dickinson goal.
Overall, Haverford outshot the Red Devils 19-8 including a 13-7 edge in shots on goal. The Fords also held the statistical advantage, 15-9, in penalty corners.
Maggie Cronin registered three saves for the Fords while West picked up the win after making 11 saves.
The loss by Haverford, along with other league results on the day, leaves a muddied jumble in the conference standings with four teams -- including the Fords and Red Devils -- tied for the fifth and final Centennial tournament playoff spot.
The Fords stay at home for their next contest as league foe Swarthmore College visits Swan Field Wednesday at 7 p.m. when Haverford will honor Ariel Herm on Senior Night.