Signature Win: As two-time defending Centennial Conference Champions entering the season, Haverford made a huge statement early in the 2017 season when it toppled then-No. 11 Messiah, 2-1, as part of a three-match winning streak to start the 2017 season. The Fords were unbeaten through five contests overall to start the year. That win against Messiah came as the Fords got a pair of goals from Nick Jannelli in each half to take down the traditional national power in what was the team's first win over the Falcons in program history. The victory helped the team climb to as high as No. 8 in Division III in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
That result earned even more credence following the national tournament as the Falcons went on to capture the NCAA Division III Championship, making Haverford one of just two teams all season to put a blemish on Messiah's record. The Fords, who finished just on the wrong side of the national bubble for entry into the tournament, made their seventh straight Centennial Conference Tournament appearance in as many seasons under head coach Shane Rineer this fall.
Awards
- Ranked as high as No. 8 in DIII United Soccer Coaches Poll
- Centennial Conference Tournament qualifier (seventh straight season)
- NSCAA Team Academic Award
- Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area: Ben Field, Dorian Wirz
- All-Centennial Conference: Nick Jannelli (first team), Ben Clark (second team), Ben Field (second team), Dorian Wirz (honorable mention)
- Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll: Reiss Berger, William Edwards, Ben Field, John Halifax, Max Krieg, Russell Nicholson, Chris Richards, Aaron Sterngass, Dorian Wirz
- Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Chris Richards
- Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week: Nick Jannelli (9/25, 10/30)
Season Notes: Haverford went 10-5-3 on the season with a 5-3-1 record in the Centennial Conference with the strongest strength of schedule in the entire Mid-Atlantic Region … The Fords' senior class concluded its career with a record of 53-19-8, finishing just one win short of tying the school record for most victories by a senior class (set by the Class of 2017 last fall) … Haverford has hosted a Centennial Conference Tournament playoff game during each of the past five seasons … The Fords have advanced to the Centennial Conference Tournament during each of the past seven seasons … Haverford is a combined 31-5-3 on Walton Field over the past four seasons … The team has won 19 straight Centennial Conference regular season home contests and is unbeaten in its past 20 such matches, a streak that dates back to the 2013 season (this year's senior class never experienced a home Centennial Conference regular season loss on Walton Field) … Haverford has earned the NSCAA Team Academic Honor in 18 of the last 20 seasons, including each of the last 12 years.
Looking ahead: With the Fords continuing to assert themselves as one of the top teams at the conference, regional, and national level; a talented senior class once again departs having left its mark on the program. However, as has become commonplace in recent memory, hungry underclassmen are ready to fill the void left by the departing Class of 2018. Ten different players started at least 12 matches this fall and eight of them will return for the 2018 season. This includes a large group from this year's juniors who comprise 11 players in total. The class is in strong position to break the program's record for most wins by a senior class with a successful 2018 campaign. Sophomore Nick Jannelli (team leading 13 goals and four assists) is a returning first-team All-Centennial selection while junior Ben Clark was a second-team All-CC defender. In addition to Clark, Reiss Berger, Nick John, and Michael Carr have each been three year starters for the Fords heading into their senior seasons.