BALTIMORE, Md. – The Haverford College field hockey team (6-5, 2-2 CC) delivered a formidable defensive performance but ultimately fell 1-0 to fourth-ranked Johns Hopkins (11-2, 5-0 CC) in a tightly contested match on Saturday afternoon at Homewood Field.
Senior goalkeeper Mary Smith was outstanding between the pipes, recording 10 saves to match her season-best total. The entire Haverford defense put in a valiant effort, holding the typically high-powered Blue Jays offense to a single goal in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Johns Hopkins registered 18 shots, including nine in the final frame, and held a 15-2 advantage in penalty corners for the contest.
Both offenses started slowly on what was an ideal day for field hockey. The Blue Jays took the first shot of the game in the sixth minute, with Smith making a crucial save on a Grace Waldeck attempt in the 12th minute. Johns Hopkins saw three more offensive opportunities go unrewarded in the first quarter.
In the 18th minute, a shot from Sophia Albano sailed wide, and Smith made another key save on a Liz Falterer attempt just before halftime, sending the teams into the break scoreless.
Early in the third quarter, Smith denied a shot from Lila Slattery. Hopkins then earned four consecutive penalty corners, but Haverford's defense stood tall, successfully defending each attempt. Slattery missed wide in the 41st minute, and seconds later, Haverford earned its first penalty corner of the game on the other end. After the ball was inserted to the top of the circle, Holly Vincent delivered a one-time pass to Louisa Coughlin, whose shot from the left flank was saved by Aubrey Kilgore. The rebound found the stick of Naomi York who threaded the ball to Rachel Marlin. Marlin appeared to score the go-ahead goal, but the Fords were whistled for an offensive foul just before the conversion.
Johns Hopkins controlled the fourth quarter, with Smith making a trio of saves in the opening two minutes and another crucial stop on Sophie Gomez in the 54th minute. Naomi York also made a defensive save, her second in as many games, clearing a dangerous redirection off the backline in that stretch.
The Blue Jays finally broke through in the 55th minute when Slattery sent a pass into the circle that was deflected into the cage by Falterer, marking the game's lone goal and final offensive opportunity for either side.
Haverford now prepares to face another top-10 opponent, welcoming No. 10 Bryn Mawr to Swan Field for a 7 p.m. showdown on Wednesday, October 16.