ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - The Haverford College Field Hockey team (1-0) picked up a 3-1 season-opening victory against the Eastern Eagles (0-1) on a warm and sunny Saturday morning on the campus of Eastern University.
Just over two minutes into the opening contest, Amy Kim got the Haverford offense going, ripping a shot towards the cage, only to be denied by Eagles goalkeeper Angelina Catania.
The Fords peppered the cage, ripping five shots in target in the first quarter to go along with seven penalty corners. However despite the relentless offensive pressure, Catania stood tall in front of the cage, keeping the first quarter scoreless.
The Eagles opened up the scoring in the second quarter after a CJ Summa blast through traffic got past Mary Smith, to give the hosts a 1-0 lead just before halftime. Shots from Zoey Despines and Naomi York late in the quarter provided some hope for the Fords, but the strikes couldn't quite find the back of the cage, as both teams headed into the halftime break with Eastern clinging on to a 1-0 lead.
Haverford wasted no time coming out of the gates in half number two, as Depsines fired off a shot that was saved 21 seconds into the third quarter, only to draw a penalty corner. The Fords then drew a penalty stroke due to a defensive violation during the penalty corner, as Rachel Marlin scooped a shot past Catania to even the game at 1-1.
Haverford kept knocking on the door in the final quarter, unleashing three shots on goal within the first five minutes of action. The Fords eventually picked up a player advantage after the Eagles' Jenna Reider collected a green card. Just over a minute into the player-up advantage, Amy Kim tight-roped Eastern's end line before playing a pass in front of the cage to Erica Pardón who deflected the ball past Catania, to put the visitors up 2-1.
Just over three minutes later, York found herself in the middle of the circle, and chopped a shot past Eastern's goalkeeper to provide the Scarlet and Black a much needed insurance goal, extending Haverford's lead to 3-1.
Following York's goal, the Fords were able to shut the door on Eastern defensively, securing a 3-1 road victory in the lid-lifter for both teams.
Catania notched 13 saves for the Eagles, as the Fords held a commanding 21-10 edge in shots. Smith was called into action to make a pair of saves, as the Haverford defense held tough against eight second-half corners from the hosts. Haverford has now won its season opener for the third consecutive season.