HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team saw its season come to a close with a penalty kick defeat at the hands of Gettysburg on Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the Centennial Conference Tournament. The Fords rallied to tie the game at 2-2 with just under 11 minutes left in regulation. After still being deadlocked at 2-2 following 110 minutes of soccer, the teams went to penalty kicks with Gettysburg advancing to the Centennial Conference semifinals via a 4-2 advantage.
The Bullets won the penalty kick round by scoring four of their five chances after they went first in each turn. Haverford scored on two of its four chances. Gettysburg claimed an early edge in the penalty kicks as the first shooter converted and the Bullets got a save from keeper Kiera Loftus. Gettysburg also made its second chance but a shootout goal from Skyler Ellenberg kept the PK within a single goal difference.
Haverford had its chance to level the shootout when Kathy Prescott came up with a huge diving save on the third attempt, but the Fords missed high on their third chance. The fourth round saw both sides convert the chances with Abby Singer stepping up for the Fords to make the score 3-2. However, a make from Gettysburg's Jessica Cuttone to start the fifth round sealed the shootout victory for her side.
The Fords saw their postseason run come to an end despite a massive 25-7 advantage in shots over the 110 minutes and a 9-3 edge in corner kick attempts. Haverford held just a 5-3 edge in shots during the game's first 45 minutes but did have the best of those chances. However, this break also did not go the Fords way as Ellenburg's bid at the go-ahead goal bounced off the crossbar in the 34th minute of play.
The host Fords really cranked up the offensive intensity after a scoreless first 45 minutes. During the second half, Haverford outshot the Bullets by a 16-3 margin. Just over five minutes into the half that pressure paid off as Katie Safter put her side up 1-0 as she hammered home a beautiful shot from the corner of the 18 that just got over the outstretched arms of Loftus and under the crossbar. Kendall Logan was credited with the assist that put Haverford up 1-0.
Gettysburg answered just over eight minutes later as Krissy Bradley headed home a cross from Alexa Bushey on the far post. Bushey continued to make the Gettysburg offense work as she set up Lauren Miesemer in the 71st minute of action. This time her cross came inside of the box to a player waiting on the far post.
Loftus made six saves, including several spectacular stops, to keep her team in the game despite the pressure. She also helped the Bullets carry the lead for just over eight minutes until Sofia Licata finished a loose ball in the box that was played back by Leanne Ludwick. Licata's goal tied the game at two and the Fords continued to test Loftus who was called on to make two more saves before the game went to overtime.
Haverford kept control of the pace of the match with a 4-1 edge in shots during the first overtime session. Kathy Prescott made her third and final save of the afternoon just over a minute into the overtime. After tying the game earlier, Licata nearly put home the game-winning attempt. However, this shot also turned into an unlucky bounce off the crossbar for Haverford. Sydney West and Raina Fitzpatrick also had runs at goal that went high, while West came back later with a shot that was saved by Loftus.
The second overtime saw nothing materialize offensively, setting the stage for Gettysburg to advance in penalty kicks. Despite the defeat, the women's soccer team finishes with its seventh 10-plus win seasons in the last eight years under head coach Jamie Schneck.