CHESTERTOWN, Md. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team (7-3, 3-0) pushed its Centennial Conference record to 3-0 with an 18-10 win over hosts Washington College (5-5, 1-2) on Wednesday evening at Roy Kirby Jr. Stadium. After a close battle in the first half, the Fords used a strong third period to pull away and secure their third win in as many tries.
Sam Silverman couldn't be stopped as she led the Fords with seven goals and six assists, establishing the new program record with 13 total points, eclipsing the previous record of 11 which was set by Allie Gibbons during the 2018 campaign. Kat Ference shined as well, scoring four goals and registering an assist while Tiffany Mikulis scored a hat-trick.
Haverford found themselves in a 3-0 hole at the start of the contest. Washington College scored the first goal at 13:00 and followed it up with two more quick tallies at 9:58 and 8:22. However, the Fords quickly evened the score and then took the lead with four unanswered goals before the end of the first period. Ferrence earned a hattrick in three minutes while Silverman added the fourth. During the run, Silverman also recorded two of her six assists in the game.
Washington College opened the second period with a goal to tie the game at four each. Silverman then scored her first goal of the contest at the 9:54 mark to regain the lead. The game went on to produce mini-runs from each team, right to the very last second of the first half.
The Shorewomen added back-to-back goals to their total, taking a brief 6-5 lead. It took five minutes for the Fords to tie the game, but they did so behind a goal from Tiffany Mikulis at the 2:44 mark.
After the hosts regained the lead, Haverford scored two unanswered goals in the final minute of the half to regain a one-goal lead. Julia Curran scored off the feed from Silverman before Silverman scored herself with just 27 seconds left with the assist going to Bonner.
Haverford used a strong third period to pull away from the hosts, and things went Haverford's way from that moment on. The Fords outscored the Shorewomen 3-1 in the third period as Silverman started to score on every shot she took.
Silverman added two goals to her tally while Jacquelyn Jardini got on the scoresheet moments later. At that point, the Fords held an 11-7 lead just before Washington College pulled a goal back at the 4:09 mark.
The beautiful play continued into the fourth and final period. It took just 18 seconds for Abby Bonner to net one for the Fords in the fourth period to make the score 12-8. Brooke Epstein then found Silverman as the senior scored her fifth goal of the contest. Silverman returned the favor for Epstein's goal at the 9:47 mark. The conversion marked Silverman's fourth assist of the night.
It kept getting worse for the hosts, as Silverman scored again at the 8:05 mark. Almost as consolation, the hosts scored back-to-back goals to get within five goals late. However, with the score at 15-10, the Fords only added to the damage, netting three more goals for good measure. Mikluis scored two while Ference scored her fourth goal in that stretch.
Shots were just about even in the contest but Haverford made the most of their chances. The Fords outshot the Shorewomen 32-28 and just edged out the hosts in ground balls 11-10. Silverman and Nancy Tucker each registered two ground balls with Lizzie Healy registering the only caused turnover for the Fords.
Haverford will next return to action on Saturday, April 8 as the Fords host the McDaniel Green Terror on Swan Field. The contest is scheduled for noon.