HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey team (2-2) was stymied by the visiting Alvernia Golden Wolves (4-1) on Swan Field Saturday afternoon, falling 1-0 despite a commanding 13-3 advantage in shots and a 10-3 edge in penalty corner opportunities for the contest. 

After a scoreless first quarter that saw Haverford pepper the cage early—with a shot from Naomi York saved by Alvernia's Lexi Boettcher—the Golden Wolves got on the scoreboard first, capitalizing on a penalty stroke in the 27th minute after a Haverford foul in the circle. Kelsy McClintock converted the stroke, giving the visitors the early lead. In the final seconds before halftime, Erica Pardón launched a lofted shot toward the goal, but Boettcher made an acrobatic save to preserve Alvernia's advantage.

Entering the second half, Haverford continued to press Alvernia's defense. The visitors' back line stepped up to deny the Fords multiple times, with shots from Zoey Despines and Pardón blocked early in the third quarter. York also had a shot on target in the 39th minute, but Boettcher was again up to the task.

A green card issued to Kathryn Palmer gave the Fords a two-minute player-up advantage early in the fourth quarter, but Alvernia successfully defended the shorthanded situation. In the 59th minute, Caroline Martin was shown a yellow card, disqualifying her for the remainder of regulation and providing Haverford with a late extra-player opportunity.

However, Alvernia played a possession-focused game, keeping the ball away from Haverford's attackers and preventing any penalty corners in the final quarter, allowing the clock to expire for a narrow win.

York registered two shots on goal, while Pardón and Holly Vincent each added one for the Fords. Boettcher made four saves for Alvernia between the pipes.

Haverford returns to action on Saturday, September 21, with a road matchup against Rowan at 12 p.m., kicking off a three-game road swing that includes contests at DeSales on Wednesday, September 25, and at Dickinson on Saturday, September 28, to open Centennial Conference play.