CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Diana Perry scored a career-high six goals to help the visiting Haverford College women's lacrosse team upset 20th-ranked Washington College, 12-11, on Wednesday afternoon in Centennial Conference action.
Two successful free position shots from Perry and one from senior Perrin Downing staked the Fords (11-3, 5-1 CC) to a 3-1 lead in the first seven minutes of the contest.
The Shorewomen (10-3, 3-3) quickly tied the score with free position shots of their own from Emily Hubley and Corinne Ziccardi separated by less than a minute.
Perry and Hubley then traded goals to account for the second tie of the day before Haverford struck for four of the final goals of the half. Megan Gallagher tallied two and Elyse Adler chipped in with one. Perry's fourth goal of the first half at 2:56 provided the Fords with a three-goal lead heading into intermission.
Washington answered back with its own surge to start the second half as the hosts scored four of the next five to knot the game at 9-9.
Perry made sure Haverford remained in control of the contest with her 50th of the season at the midway point of the second half after Shannon Horn had turned away a free position attempt by Carley Kendall.
After regaining the lead, the Fords slowed things down on offense to limit the Shorewomen's possessions as Washington's offense ranked 17th in the country entering the contest.
Haverford's patience paid off when Kenny Likes scored her 17th of the season after Hannah Morgan forced a turnover by goalie Stephanie Seibert. Downing then extended the Fords' lead back to three just a minute later when she deposited her 10th of the season over Seibert's shoulder.
Ziccardi's second free position goal of the day cut the Haverford advantage to two with 10 and half minutes remaining. The Fords continued to thwart the Shorewomen's attack, however, by dominating possession over the final minutes of the game.
Haverford controlled the ball for almost four minutes before Washington broke through one last time. Ziccardi's third of the day on her team's 30th shot of the afternoon brought the Shorewomen within one at the four-minute mark.
Perry corralled the subsequent draw control and Washington did not regain possession for over a minute.
Coming out of a timeout, the Shorewomen looked for the tie but Horn turned away Kendall's offering and Haverford came through with its 14th successful clear of the game.
Washington attempted to double and triple the ball but the Fords maintained their composure to close out the upset victory.
Currently the leading goal producer in the Centennial, Perry's six goals came on 10 shots. The sophomore also added a career-high five draw controls. Downing and Gallagher finished with two goals apiece while Adler and Likes accounted for the remaining two goals. Morgan and Downing registered Haverford's lone two assists in the contest.
Emily Hubley matched Perry with six goals to pace the Shorewomen. Ziccardi finished with three goals and one assist while Mollie Shipley, the top assist person in the conference, chipped in with one goal and two assists.
Horn (10-3) tied her career-high with 12 saves to earn the win in goal.
The Fords made life difficult for Washington's Seibert (10-3) as the senior, who tops the conference in saves, gave up 12 goals while making just seven saves.
Haverford, currently in sole possession of third place in the Centennial standings, returns to Swan Field on Saturday for a contest against seventh-ranked Franklin & Marshall College at 1 p.m. Undefeated in conference play, the Diplomats (11-2, 6-0) will be the Fords' fourth nationally-ranked opponent of the season. Prior to the contest, Haverford will recognize seniors Downing, Likes and Grace Stockbower.