COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Coming off a victory against then-No. 1 Franklin & Marshall, the newly-ranked Haverford College men's soccer team showed no signs of a let up during a 4-0 victory Thursday night at Ursinus. With their most recent victory, the Fords (13-3, 8-0 CC) – ranked No. 18 in the latest NSCAA Poll and No. 14 in the D3Soccer.com Poll – set a new program record with their 11th straight win and officially clinched home field advantage for next Week's Centennial Conference Tournament.
It was two goals in each half for the Fords that guaranteed the Centennial Conference Championship would call Walton Field home for the second time in three seasons. Tejan Walcott opened the scoring, while Brady Seitz played a role in both first half goals by assisting on the first and tallying the second in unassisted fashion. A Sam Yarosh goal from Ben Field made it a 3-0 match in the second half before a penalty kick from Ryan Hill closed the scoring.
The Fords' fast paced offense took just 12 shots for the match, but was very efficient with its chances overall. Haverford broke onto the scoreboard in the 20th minute of play when Walcott took a pass from Seitz and spun the defense around for a close finish. His goal, which turned out to be the game-winning attempt with the defense pitching a shutout, was his fifth goal overall this season.
Colin Seitz nearly had the Fords up 2-0 just minutes after the first strike, but saw his shot ricochet off the post. Nevertheless, it was Brady Seitz that sent Haverford into the half with a 2-0 advantage as he finished a direct kick for his seventh goal of the season. His goal came with just nine seconds left in the first half.
Just over 13 minutes into the second half, Yarosh added to his ever growing Centennial Conference lead in goals with his 15th of the season. He scored on a header just five yards out from goal with a pass from Field, who now has three assists on the year. Yarosh's 15 goals this season are tied for the 10th most in a single year over the program's storied history.
The host Bears committed 19 fouls on the night. Punished with Brady Seitz's direct kick goal in the first half, Ursinus was forced to pay for its fouling again as the team was whistled for a foul in the box during 85th minute of play. Hill calmly delivered for his third goal of the year in his first career penalty kick chance.
Sam Miller made five saves in 72:41 of playing time before Chris Gibson came on to play the final 17:19 of regulation time. Gibson made one save to secure Haverford's seventh defensive shutout of the year.
Men's soccer will now go for a perfect 9-0 record in Centennial Conference play this Saturday against Swarthmore. Before the game, which is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., the Fords will honor the four members of their graduating class in Ian Alers, Brady Seitz, Colin Seitz, and Yarosh. With a win against its rivals, Haverford would claim a point in the Hood Trophy race and become the first team since Johns Hopkins in 2006 to go unbeaten and untied in Centennial Conference play during the regular season.