SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey team stepped onto the field Wednesday knowing that only a win would keep their Centennial Conference playoff hopes alive. Under intense pressure, they delivered in thrilling fashion, claiming a heart-stopping 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Muhlenberg. Fast forward to Saturday, with Washington College's loss to Gettysburg creating a "win-and-in" scenario, the stakes were clear again as Haverford took on longtime rival Swarthmore at Clothier Field.
After 80 minutes of fiercely contested play, neither team managed to score, setting the stage for yet another nerve-wracking shootout. Haverford's resilience shone through as the Fords (9-7, 5-4 CC) defied the odds again to upset No. 24 Swarthmore (11-7, 7-2 CC) by a 1-0 margin. Rookie goalkeeper Steph Ionescu rose as the shootout specialist and hero once more, stopping Katherine Kohn's decisive shot and sparking a jubilant celebrations on the field.
With the victory, Haverford clinched a Centennial Conference tournament berth for the third time in four seasons. As the fifth seed, they'll travel to face fourth-seeded Franklin & Marshall in the First Round on Tuesday. Game times will be announced on Monday's conference call.
Haverford's triumph came despite a 16-3 shot advantage and an 18-3 edge in penalty corners for the Garnet. The Fords' defense held strong, withstanding every surge from Swarthmore through regulation and overtime.
Early in the game, Haverford created a few chances, earning a penalty corner in the fifth minute. Holly Vincent had a pair of shots during that spell, one blocked and another just wide. Louisa Coughlin followed with a shot off a corner in the 14th minute, marking the Fords' final shot attempt of the game.
Swarthmore dominated possession in the second quarter. Nearing halftime, Haverford's Mary Smith made a crucial save on a Swarthmore corner in the 28th minute and then blocked consecutive shots from Sophia Hitchingham and Amelia Landry just before the break.
Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, with neither managing a shot on frame. Swarthmore opened the fourth quarter aggressively, earning two corners, but Haverford held steady, neutralizing two shots from Magdalena Jordan before the end of regulation.
Overtime brought a familiar setting for the Fords, who had seen four previous contests go beyond the final buzzer this season. In the first 7-vs-7 overtime, Swarthmore earned a corner, but Smith saved Sophia Hitchingham's shot, and she later denied Gabriella Vasquez in the 64th minute on a breakaway attempt. Another corner in the 67th minute saw Haverford's defense swarm, preventing Swarthmore from getting off a shot.
In the second overtime period, Swarthmore's Kohn shot wide in the 73rd minute, while Hitchingham narrowly missed in the 78th. Smith continued her outstanding performance, registering six saves, including a crucial stop on Hitchingham's final attempt in the 79th minute.
During the penalty shootout, Hitchingham converted first for Swarthmore, with Erica Pardón answering for Haverford. Ionescu then blocked Kayla Fink's attempt, and Zoey Despines scored to put Haverford ahead. Naomi York and Jordan each traded goals, but Ionescu's save on Emma Duffield set up Carolina Sanchez for a game-winning opportunity. While Cassandra Conklin made a pivotal save to keep Swarthmore alive, Ionescu ultimately denied Kohn's last attempt, sealing Haverford's postseason bid.
With only the volleyball matchup left on the fall schedule, Haverford and Swarthmore are currently tied in the Hood Trophy standings at 2.5 points each.
Haverford will now prepare to face Franklin & Marshall on Tuesday. The Diplomats claimed a 4-1 victory over the Fords in their regular season matchup.