HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford College used late goals from Kayleigh Herrick-Reynolds, Josie Ferri and Megan Gallagher to fend off the challenge from Drew University in an 11-8 non-conference women's lacrosse victory Wednesday night at Swan Field.
Herrick-Reynolds pulled the Fords (4-1) even with the Rangers (3-2) at 8-8 and 9-9 with her fourth and fifth markers in the game. Ferri then put Haverford ahead for good with just over 11 minutes remaining followed by Gallagher's goal three minutes later which pushed the lead to the game's final margin of victory.
Early first-half action was all Haverford as it stormed out to a 3-0 lead in less than four minutes on scores from Herrick-Reynolds, Ferri and Perrin Downing. After Drew got on the scoreboard with a goal from Devon Afflack, Kenny Likes put Haverford ahead by three again with her second goal of the season.
The Fords owned a 7-3 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the half but Drew caught fire and score five unanswered goals to sneak into the halftime break with a one-goal advantage.
Drew answered Herrick-Reynolds' initial second-half goal but the Fords netted the final three tallies in the game to pull out the win.
After Herrick-Reynolds tied the score at 9-9 on a free position attempt with 13:21 to play, Ferri wrapped around the goal and scored from the right of Rangers goalie Rachel Hanley two minutes later to give the Fords their first lead since the 1:59 mark of the opening half.
Clinging to a one-goal cushion, the Fords forced a turnover along the left sideline and got the ball to Ferri who raced into the offensive third where the Rangers' defense collapsed on the oncoming threat. That left Gallagher alone to Ferri's right where a quick pass and a deadly shot extended the lead.
Haverford goalie Leah Hammerschlag finished the game with seven saves but played bigger than that number down the stretch. She stopped the Rangers' Becca Schild on a free position attempt with seven minutes remaining and the Fords up by two, then added another free position save with 1:22 left on the clock.
Hanley took the loss in goal for the Rangers after making six saves on the night.
Haverford opens its Centennial Conference slate in its next game with a trip to fifth-ranked Gettysburg College for a 1 p.m. contest this Saturday.