HAVERFORD, Pa. – Tuesday evening's Centennial Conference men's lacrosse game at Swan Field turned on a first-period burst from host Haverford College as the Fords netted the game's only unanswered string of goals during a span of less than four minutes to build an advantage that would hold up in a 7-5 victory over Muhlenberg College.
Haverford (5-6, 2-3 CC) picked up consecutive goals from Jake Maldonado, Christian Clay and Henry Millson over a 3 minute, 49 second span in the first period, then settled for exchanging goals with the Mules (6-6, 2-3) the rest of the way.
Geoff Geppert got the home team on the board first with an unassisted marker less than three minutes after the opening faceoff. Setting a theme for the remainder of the night -- both before and after an hour delay between the third and fourth periods because of a severe thunderstorm that rolled through the area -- the Mules answered Haverford's goal with their own unassisted marker from Doug Rheiner two minutes later.
Maldonado kicked off the string of goals from the Fords, burying a high-to-high shot over the shoulder of Muhlenberg goalie Adam Schlauch at the 6:57 mark. Clay netted his first of the game 26 seconds later, with an assist from Jack Bodine, and then Millson added the third at the 3:08 mark to push the Fords' advantage to 4-1.
From that point forward, first Muhlenberg then Haverford would trade off goals until the final horn.
Eric Caliendo had a strong night between the pipes for Haverford to earn the win, coming up with 10 saves, five of which came in the third period, while causing a pair of turnovers and scooping up five ground balls.
Bodine and Clay each netted a pair of goals for the Haverford attack while Scott Chanelli, who is sixth in the NCAA in caused turnovers per game (3.60), was a force in the defensive end with four caused turnovers and seven ground balls.
Muhlenberg's Jack Reilly led the visitor's offense with a pair of goals and two assists for a game-high four points. Schlauch took the loss in goal despite coming up with 12 saves for the Mules.
Haverford will enjoy a 10-day break between games, not hitting the field for another contest until April 20 in Lancaster, Pa., where the Fords will square off against 15th-ranked Franklin & Marshall College.