HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's soccer team (1-2) shifted under the lights at Swan Field on Wednesday evening due to forecasted high temperatures, coming away with a 2-0 victory over visiting Alvernia (0-3) to record the first win of the 2023 campaign.
In an impressive offensive display, Haverford fired off 39 shots while allowing the Golden Wolves just five shot attempts. The Fords also held a dominating 12-2 edge in corner kicks.
Haverford had some early chances, earning consecutive corners in the first 10 minutes of action, but ultimately opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Keira Prince fired towards goal but the shot redirected and found the waiting foot of Sophia Miranda, who scored her first tally of the season for the 1-0 lead.
Prince hit the post less than a minute later, and the Fords kept the offensive pressure on, peppering the cage and Alvernia goalkeeper Bryn Bock, who had a valiant display between the pipes, stopping nine shots.
Just moments before the end of the first half, Abigale Baker collected a loose ball near midfield and delivered a perfect through ball to a charging Prince who broke through the Alvernia backline and was suddenly in a 1-versus-1 with the goalkeeper. Prince deftly buried the opportunity to double the Haverford advantage.
In the second half, it was more of the same for the host Fords, as Ella Manning saw her shot attempt corralled off the back line by an Alvernia defender while Grace Haskell and JJ Stein each had solid looks at goal. McMillan hit the crossbar in the 62nd minute before Alvernia was denied by Theresa Haupt on the other end as she made a lunging save to push a Madison Rotkiske shot over the crossbar and out of danger. Haupt eventually finished with four saves and logged her first career shutout as a starter.
The Fords went back to work with Baker hitting the crossbar in the 68th minute before Julia Noppenberger and Olivia Daulerio had shots on goal saved by Bock. Bock tallied three more saves in the final 11 minutes to keep the Haverford cushion to just the two first-half goals.
Prince had 10 shots to pace the Fords on the evening, while Haskell (6), Geralis (4), and Manning (4) all had multiple looks at goal.
Haverford now heads out on the road for a test at DeSales on Saturday, September 9. The contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m. in Center Valley. The Fords return home to Walton Field on September 16, taking on Lebanon Valley at noon as part of a doubleheader with the men's team.