HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey team (5-3) continued its winning ways in dramatic fashion, outlasting visiting Susquehanna (5-4) by a 2-1 final score in overtime on Swan Field Wednesday evening.
The game was a back-and-forth affair with both teams having their fair share of chances. Haverford had a slight edge in shots, 15-7, but Susquehanna's goalkeeper Taytum Lombardi made eight saves to keep her team in the game in the nailbiter. The Fords rattled off 12 penalty corners, including seven in the third quarter, while limiting the visitors to just four.
The contest was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and went into a 10-minute, sudden-victory, 7-on-7 overtime period. Haverford's Erica Pardón scored the game-winning goal with 5:21 left in overtime to give the Fords a 2-1 victory, redirecting a blast from Holly Vincent into the back of the cage to set off a raucous celebration.
Haverford's Mary Smith made three saves in the game and was helped by a strong defensive effort from her teammates, who did well to limit Susquehanna's scoring opportunities, especially in the second half.
Haverford had a number of chances to score in the first half, but Lombardi made some key saves to keep the game tied. Vincent and Naomi York each had solid looks on cage in the 18th minute, and Smith was called into action to stop a Kari Schmidt shot off a penalty corner in the 23rd minute. Smith corralled a shot from Lauren Leibensperger in the 27th, and the two teams headed into the intermission scoreless.
In the second half, Haverford continued to press for a goal, with a renewed offensive intensity and a stifling pressure that saw the Fords control the majority of possession in the third frame. The Fords finally broke through in the 41st minute when Pardón sent in a penalty corner that eventually found the stick of Zoey Despines. Despines got the ball into Louisa Coughlin, who rocketed in an attempt that Naomi York redirected in to open the scoring.
Susquehanna responded to equalize things late, as the River Hawks tied the game in the 57th minute on a goal by Taylor Rothermel on a last-ditch corner. Lydia Hidlay inserted the attempt and after shots in the middle of the circle from Emma Campitelli and Samara Campenni, Rothermel was in perfect position to guide a loose ball across the goal line to send things to overtime.
In the extra session, the Fords killed off a green card on Zoey Despines, and were able to take back the offensive momentum, with York gliding into the circle and putting a shot on frame. The ensuing scramble resulted in a corner attempt, as Pardón inserted the ball. Although the entry pass trickled away from the top of the circle, Haverford regrouped, with Vincent sending a blast towards cage that Pardon was able to redirect down low to seal the victory.
Field Hockey now hops right back into Centennial Conference action, taking on the Bullets of Gettysburg at home on Saturday, October 5. The 1 p.m. matinee matchup is also Haverford's Play with Pride Match on Swan Field.