HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team needed overtime on Wednesday evening against DeSales but a goal from Katie Safter just 4:21 into the first overtime session pushed the Fords' (5-1) winning streak to five straight. Safter's goal came off a corner kick that was put into play by Sydney West. In the process, head coach Jamie Schneck recorded the 100th win of her career as she moved to 100-48-24 all-time as head coach.
Safter's game-winning goal came after the Bulldogs (4-4) leveled the game at 1-1 with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation time on a goal from Gabby Lucchese. The Fords initially took the 1-0 lead when Anna Dekle scored an unassisted goal in the 56th minute of game action. With her latest goal, Dekle becomes the first Haverford player this season to register multiple goals on her way to the eighth tally of her career.
Haverford seemingly controlled the action for most of the afternoon but had nothing to show for its effort on the scoreboard until Dekle's goal early in the second half. The Fords accumulated a 10-0 edge in shots during the first 45 minutes and held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks during that time. However, three saves from DeSales' Haley Jacobs kept the game scoreless.
The Fords maintained that constant pressure in the second half with another 10 shots while the Bulldogs managed six attempts in the second half. After sending a pair of shots wide of target to start the second half, Dekle finally broke through just over 10 minutes into the period. Creating her own space in the defense, the Fords' junior found the back of the net for the 1-0 advantage.
Haverford had a number of chances for an insurance tally but six more saves from Jacobs thwarted those chances. Jacobs finished the contest with nine saves for the visiting Bulldogs. Those saves would ultimately help to ensure an overtime session as a long pass from Jess Wetherhold found the foot of Lucchese in the 83rd minute for the equalizier. That goal was the first allowed by the Haverford defense in 478:08 of playing time, dating back to the first game of the season.
When the game moved into the overtime session, it was back-to-back corner kicks that cracked the DeSales defense for the second time. With the Bulldogs knocking the initial corner over their end line for a second try, West found Safter for the header and game-winning goal. Safter's goal was the first of this season and third of her career. West became the first Haverford player with two assists this year on the play.
Women's soccer will now head out on the road this Saturday as the team travels to Stevenson for a 7 p.m. showdown under the lights.