HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team (6-3, 2-0 CC) extended its winning streak to four with a 2-1 victory over visiting Gettysburg (8-3, 1-2 CC) on Swan Field Saturday afternoon, marking its second consecutive Centennial Conference triumph.
The visiting Bullets struck first in the 19th minute, but a second-quarter goal from Naomi York tied the score heading into halftime. Amy Kim then put Haverford ahead for good in the 52nd minute. Haverford held a 17-12 advantage in shots and an 8-7 edge in penalty corners. The Fords took nine shots in the fourth quarter, applying pressure to find the go-ahead goal. Darby picked up the win with three saves, while Emilia Saccento was strong in goal for the Bullets, stopping eight shots.
After a scoreless first quarter, a stanza in which the Fords got shots on goal from York and Zoey Despines, it was the Bullets who opened the scoring early in the second quarter. Lindsey Darby, making her first start of the season, denied shots from Katie Regan and Sabrina Post. Moments later, Post sent a cross in for Jillian Somers, who netted the game's first goal.
Just before halftime, Erica Pardón sent a strong pass into the circle where York was perfectly positioned to score the 29th-minute equalizer. With renewed momentum, Haverford looked strong at the start of the second half, as Pardón and York both fired shots on target. Gettysburg responded with a flurry of corner opportunities, but Darby stood firm, denying a shot from Post, and soon Morgan Cherry's attempt was cleared out by the Fords' backline. The Bullets earned another corner in the 39th minute, but Sam Woolery's effort was blocked.
In the fourth quarter, Haverford kept pressing. Ileana Rodriguez and Holly Vincent had solid looks at goal, with Vincent's shot sailing wide in the 51st minute. Less than a minute later, Pardón dribbled into the circle and found Kim with a perfectly-threaded centering pass, as the senior tapped it in to give the Fords their first lead of the game with her first tally of the season.
Looking to add an insurance goal, Haverford had shots from Louisa Coughlin and York denied, before Gettysburg earned a corner in the 57th minute. Bella Bonazinga found herself in front of goal, but her shot went wide of Darby. One final circle entry by the Bullets in the closing seconds was dealt with deftly by the Fords defense, sealing another conference win for Haverford.
The contest also served as Haverford's annual Play with Pride game, celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Haverford Athletics and broader college athletics community.
The Fords will return to action on Wednesday, October 9, when they host Washington College's Shorewomen at Swan Field for a 7 p.m. pushback. This marks the third contest of a stretch in which Haverford plays five of six games at home.