HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey team (7-6, 3-3 CC) suffered a Centennial Conference defeat on Saturday afternoon, dropping a home match on Swan Field by a score of 4-1 to Franklin & Marshall (8-6, 5-2 CC). The match was Haverford's annual Think Pink game in honor of breast cancer awareness.
The Fords had the first big chance of the game after being rewarded with a penalty stroke following two menacing shots off a penalty corner by Holly Vincent and Erica Pardón. Rachel Marlin stepped up to the spot and ripped a shot towards the cage. However, F&M goalkeeper Meghan Dole slashed towards her left and turned away the chance from Marlin with a strong save.
Just over four minutes later, the Diplomats got the scoring started after Jessica Miller found the back of the cage. After collecting a long pass from the midfield, Miller made a few nifty dribbling moves while making her way into the circle. Once in the circle, Miller fired a shot past Scarlet and Black goalkeeper Mary Smith, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the 7:53 mark of the first quarter.
Haverford looked to equalize quickly out of the gates of the second quarter, however, a menacing shot from Ileana Rodriguez was denied by Dole yet again, as Franklin & Marshall headed into the halftime break clinging to just a 1-0 lead.
With just over six minutes in the third quarter, the Fords were able to find the crucial equalizer. After collecting the ball, Vincent rushed down the field with possession, slapping a hard pass into the middle of the circle. Pardón redirected the ball with a blast to the far post where Ileana Rodriguez was able to poke it home to level the game at 1-1.
The Scarlet and Black carried the momentum from the third quarter into the fourth, but it was the visitors who were able to strike once again, this time with just six-and-a-half minutes left. Off a penalty corner, Keira Boensch rocketed a driven ball towards the cage. Caitlin Hoover extended her stick and pushed the ball past Smith, to give the Diplomats a 2-1 lead.
Less than a minute later, F&M tacked on another goal, as this time it was Hoover providing the helper to a Hannah Fitzgerald goal. After gathering the ball on the flank once again, Hoover was able to sprint towards the near post with the ball, as Smith came charging out. Hoover made a pass to the far post, where Fitzgerald thwacked a one-time shot into the back of the cage to give the Diplomats a 3-1 lead.
With only 44 seconds remaining in the game, the Scarlet and Black surrendered a penalty stroke, as Caroline Roschen converted the chance to give Franklin & Marshall a commanding 4-1 win.
The feisty affair saw seven total cards distributed, with two green cards being given out, and five yards being issued. Haverford collected four yellow cards and one green card, as F&M picked up a green card and a yellow card.
The Fords outshot the Diplomats 10-8, with Pardón pacing the Scarlet and Black with three total shots, placing two on the cage. A busy day in between the posts saw Smith make three crucial saves against the Diplomats.
The Fords will hit the road for their next contest, as Haverford faces another crucial Centennial Conference clash in Collegeville, Pa, taking on the No. 17 Ursinus Bears at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23.