HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College field hockey team (6-4, 2-1 CC) was edged out in overtime on Wednesday evening at Swan Field, falling 2-1 to the visiting Shorewomen of Washington College (7-4, 2-1 CC) in a tightly contested Centennial Conference showdown under the lights.
Washington College struck first when Kat Esposito found the back of the net, assisted by MaryCate Anson, at the 7:20 mark of the first quarter. The Shorewomen's 1-0 lead held through the first half, despite several penalty corner opportunities from the Fords, who at one point held a commanding 10-0 advantage in corners.
Haverford maintained the edge in possession during the second quarter, with Erica Pardón firing off a flurry of shots in the 21st minute, only for Charlotte Schurman to deflect them out of danger. Emily Marson made a crucial defensive save on a shot from Zoey Despines, while Rachel Marlin and Louisa Coughlin both had strong scoring chances. Coughlin had a final strong look at cage as the half wound down, but her shot went wide, leaving the Fords trailing despite a 12-5 shot advantage and an 8-0 edge in penalty corners at intermission.
The Fords responded early in the third quarter when Marlin converted a penalty stroke to even the score at 1-1. After a Fords' corner attempt, Naomi York's initial shot was saved by Schurman, and the rebound fell to Pardón. However, Jam Hutt-Robles cleared Pardón's attempt off the back line, but a penalty stroke was awarded in the ensuing scramble. Marlin confidently buried the stroke to tie the match with her second of the season.
In what became a defensive battle, both teams missed several chances throughout the remainder of regulation. Haverford goalkeeper Lindsey Darby tallied seven saves, including a series of critical stops in the fourth quarter as Washington College piled on pressure with five penalty corners. York and Holly Vincent were both credited with defensive saves in that stretch as Darby and the backline stood firm against the Shorewomen's mounting attacks.
With the score tied at 1-1, the match entered overtime. Esposito, Washington College's offensive catalyst throughout the night and the season, delivered the game-winner. After Zoe Shevitz inserted a penalty corner during the 7-on-7 session, a foul was called in the circle, returning possession to the Fords. However, a turnover in the run of play gave the ball back to Washington. Samantha McMahon fired a shot that hit the post, but Esposito quickly capitalized on the rebound, guiding the ball over the goal line for her 11th goal of the season at the 63:33 mark, sealing the 2-1 victory for the Shorewomen.
Haverford held a slight advantage in penalty corners, 10-7, but Washington College outshot the Fords 17-15, largely due to a dominant 10-0 shot edge in the fourth quarter and overtime. Schurman made five saves to secure her seventh win of the season, while Darby came just one save shy of her career high, stopping seven shots in her 60-plus minutes in goal.
The Fords now face another tough test on Saturday, October 12 as they travel to face No. 4 Johns Hopkins, the defending Centennial Conference champions, for a noon matinee at Homewood Field in Baltimore.