RADNOR, Pa. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team (1-0), receiving votes in the USILA/ILWomen Preseason Poll, kicked off the 2024 season at Edith Robb Dixon Field on the campus of Cabrini University with a 15-10 victory over the host Cavaliers (1-1) Wednesday afternoon.
Brooke Epstein had a stellar start to the 2024 campaign, scoring four goals and adding three assists for a seven-point performance. She also gathered a trio of ground balls. Tiffany Mikulis contributed a hat-trick, as the reigning All-American led the game with seven ground balls.
The Fords also received multi-goal games from Kylie McNamara and Ellie Hughes. Abby Bonner tallied three assists, and Louisa Coughlin had a solid debut with four draw controls and four ground balls. Annie Bravacos secured the win between the pipes with seven saves.
In a rematch of last season's thrilling season-opening win in overtime, Haverford looked strong out of the gates with a 3-0 run to begin the contest, seizing early momentum. Mikulis was the first to find the back of the net just over two minutes into the season, scoring off an assist from Brooke Epstein.
On the ensuing draw, Ellie Hughes took a feed from Abby Bonner and found the back of the net swiftly. Mikulis then went back to work off an assist from Kylie McNamara, and the Fords were up by a trio of goals at the 11:22 mark of the first.
Cabrini rattled off a 3-0 run of its own, with goals from Cassidy Starner, Neve Murphy, and Alena Catka as the hosts benefited from three consecutive draw controls. A Cabrini turnover with 8:27 to go led to another Epstein tally with 8:05 to play, and Kylie Kearon scored off the following draw to restore a two-point cushion. McNamara scored with 2:52 to play, as Haverford was yet again up by three.
Goals from McNamara and Epstein to begin the second quarter helped the Fords gain some separation from the hosts, and the Haverford run reached its apex at 5-0 as McNamara, Bonner, Mikulis, Hughes, and Reilly Curran all found the back of the net. The Fords headed to the intermission in control, up seven at 12-5.
Kearon lit the lamp to begin the third, and in the defensive-minded frame, it was Epstein next to find back of the net for the Fords with 5:24 remaining, extending the Haverford advantage to 14-6. Epstein also fired the opening salvo of the fourth quarter, and the visitors looked to be in command up 15-6.
From that point, Cabrini made a final run with the Fords just hoping to chew clock and retain possession. Cabrini rattled off the final four goals of the contest as Olivia Little notched a natural hat-trick, putting her squad back within six in the waning moments. Olivia Pace then put the hosts back within just five with just over 90 seconds remaining, but it was a bit too late for Cabrini to have designs on a tie.
Haverford owned a 27-24 advantage in shots and tallied 29 ground balls. Cabrini caused 12 turnovers, but the Fords were able to escape without further damage thanks in part to a 16-12 advantage in draw controls.
The Fords now return to action on Wednesday, February 28, taking on Widener at home on Swan Field. The opening draw is slated for 4 p.m. as Haverford continues non-conference action.