CENTER VALLEY, Pa.. - The Haverford College field hockey team (6-7) went on the road for a 2-1 non-conference victory over DeSales (11-3) on Monday evening, securing a late goal from Naomi York to seal the victory after DeSales had scored to tie the contest less than three minutes prior. The Fords have now won three consecutive contests dating back to October 8. DeSales lost for the first time since September 20 as the Fords snapped their seven-game win streak. The Haverford triumph was DeSales' first loss to an unranked team this season.
Haverford wasted no time getting its offense in an early rhythm, scoring on the first shot of the game. The Fords were awarded a penalty corner under 90 seconds into the run of play. After the first attempt went fruitless but a foul was called in the circle, the subsequent corner resulted in Dalia Bercow finding the waiting stick of Delaney Snowden, who redirected the corner feed into the back of the cage for the early advantage and her fifth tally of the season.
With the Fords in the lead, DeSales proved to be the more aggressive offensive team in the rest of the first half, chasing a tying goal with fervor. Mary Smith was called into action to make two early saves in the first five minutes, and Haverford's swarming defense blocked two more shots in the stanza. The second period saw Smith come up with another big save in the 25th minute, as Haverford headed to the intermission with a 1-0 lead despite the hosts holding a 7-1 advantage in shots.
The Fords then came out firing to begin the third quarter, with Kayla Yeatman making two big saves in the cage before a defensive save by Grace DeThomas denied Bercow from lighting the lamp.
Smith was strong on the other end, denying Maddie Trocki in the 39th minute as the Haverford defense frustrated the Bulldogs with a strong penalty corner unit keeping the lead 1-0 into the fourth quarter.
DeSales had the rhythm on its side in the fourth, holding much of the possession in the early goings. Nikki Chiaradia scored off an entry pass from Sarah Peterson in the 53rd minute to tie the score at 1-1. Haverford went straight back to work from that point, scoring on their only shot of the fourth quarter as the Fords entered the circle from the run of play and looked to be aggressive with Anna Bradley fighting for positioning down low in a swarm of Bulldog defenders' sticks.
Making the smart one-time centering pass to York, Bradley cleared the way for the first year to add her second of the season with a straight-on look at the cage as the two San Diegans connected to lift the Fords in the 56th minute. Both of York tally's this season have been game-winners, as she also scored the lone goal in Haverford's 1-0 win over Stockton in early September.
Content to play a possession-minded style for the remainder of the contest with the lead back in hand, Haverford denied DeSales a shot in the final 4:30 of regulation. Smith finished with four saves, while Haverford took the victory despite DeSales holding a 16-6 lead in shots and a 12-6 advantage in corners.
Olivia Ahart had two shots on goal to pace Haverford in that category. The victory was the second consecutive one-goal win over DeSales, as Haverford was a 3-2 winner in overtime on September 8 of 2021 on Swan Field.
Haverford now hops right back into Centennial Conference play, with a key matchup at Washington College on the docket for Wednesday night. Pass back is slated for 7 p.m. as both teams are 3-3 in CC play, looking for separation in a crowded pack fighting for conference playoff position.