HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team (4-0) edged out the Scranton Royals (0-3) in a thrilling 14-13 victory on Saturday afternoon at Swan Field, securing its fourth straight win of the season, the first 4-0 start to the season since the 2022 campaign.
The matchup against the Royals served as the annual One Love game. The One Love Foundation was created in 2010 to honor the memory of former University of Virginia women's lacrosse player Yeardley Love. Since her passing, One Love's mission has been to educate, empower and activate young people in a movement to end relationship violence and to promote healthy relationships in its place.
Brooke Epstein led Haverford in the contest with three goals, one assist, and seven draw controls, while Ellie Hughes and Abby Bonner also netted hat tricks on Saturday. Tiffany Mikulis contributed with two goals and two assists, and Kylie McNamara added two goals of her own. Sophie Jaffe caused two turnovers and added two assists, while Finley Jordan scooped up three ground balls. Goalie Annie Bravacos recorded six saves in the win.
The game opened with Scranton striking first at the 3:55 mark of the first quarter, courtesy of Erin Reich. Haverford quickly responded as Bella Gattuso found the back of the net with 2:14 remaining in the period, leveling the score at 1-1.
The second quarter saw an offensive explosion from the Fords, who tallied seven goals to seize control of the game. Epstein ignited the scoring spree at 8:10, followed by Hughes less than a minute later off an assist from Mikulis. Epstein struck again at 7:02 with an assist from Jaffe, giving Haverford its first multi-goal lead of the contest.
Though Scranton answered with a goal from Reich at 5:15, the Fords continued their onslaught. Bonner, Hughes, McNamara, and Mikulis all found the net before halftime, propelling Haverford to an 8-4 advantage at the intermission.
Scranton battled back in the third quarter, outscoring Haverford 5-4 in a tightly contested stanza. Eileen Hewitt and Grace Lane scored back-to-back goals early in the period before Hughes completed her hat trick with 11:36 remaining in the third. Despite the Royals' push, McNamara and Bonner each added another goal, and Mikulis capped off the quarter with a goal at the 28-second mark to keep Haverford ahead 12-9.
The fourth quarter turned into a defensive battle, with Scranton narrowing the gap. Hewitt converted a power-play goal at 14:07, and Devyn Tanajewski scored minutes later to cut the deficit to one. Bonner momentarily extended Haverford's cushion at 8:02, but Jessica McCabe and Lane responded for the Royals, making it a one-goal game with under five minutes remaining. Epstein then delivered the clutch decisive goal at 6:18, securing the Fords' hard-fought victory despite Scranton's late surge.
Haverford outshot Scranton 33-26 and held an 18-12 advantage in draw controls, which proved crucial in dictating possession on a windy afternoon that saw no guarantees in the attacking third.
The Fords will look to continue their winning streak as they head into their next matchup, in Hoboken, N.J. The Scarlet and Black take on No. 17 Stevens on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m.