HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College Women's Soccer team (6-9-2, 2-7-1 CC) hosted Hood Trophy Rival No. 21 Swarthmore (12-2-2, 8-1-1 CC) in a highly physical battle on Walton Field.
Prior to the match, the Fords honored eight seniors Saturday, in a pre-game ceremony. The Scarlet and Black celebrated Theresa Haupt, Mitali Kessinger, Sadie Kim, Nora Gaby-Biegel, Julia Noppenberger, Angie Geralis, Liv McMillan, and Scout Crooke.
Just 37 seconds in, the Garnet struck first, going up 1-0. Following a melee in front of the net, an oncoming Veronica Gibbons came sprinting into the box and lasered a curling shot past Haupt to give Swarthmore the 1-0 advantage.
The Fords looked for the equalizer in the seventh minute, as McMillan tested the Garnet backline. The senior midfielder was able to dance around her defender and fire off a menacing shot, but the ball just went wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Haverford defender Lauren Anderson took a long distance free kick straight on goal, forcing Swarthmore keeper Lila Travers to make her first save of the contest.
The 32nd minute saw Sofia Terry with a prime opportunity on net. The first-year midfielder received a pass from Phoebe Garfield and moved into the box from the far sideline.Terry sped in towards the near post and poked a shot behind Travers. Unfortunately for the Fords, the shot just went to the right of the far post and out of play.
Travers made two more saves in the half, denying a shot from Sarah Klink off a set piece in the 34th minute, and stopping Terry for a second time in the 37th minute.
At halftime, the Scarlet and Black found themselves with the shot advantage 7-6, while the Garnet outpaced Haverford in corner kicks 3-0. Manu Anargyrou had the lone yellow card in the first half, receiving the caution in the 30th minute.
The 65th minute saw the best chance of the game for the Fords, as Garfield had two extraordinary opportunities to level the game. The Colorado native found herself alone with the ball at the penalty spot and hammered a shot on frame. Travers pushed the shot away, only for Garfield to pounce on the rebound. The junior then rifled a second shot but it went wide of the frame. However after all of the commotion, the play was ruled offside.
Starting in the 68th minute a chippy contest saw three yellow cards issued in a seven minute span. Olivia Daulerio of Haverford and Ava Gizzie of Swarthmore picked up yellows in the 68th and 70th minutes, while Grace Haskell earned a yellow card after a challenge from behind on Eloise Franz.
Despite all the commotion in the later half of the game, the Garnet found their insurance goal in the 88th minute. It was Gibbons again, this time off a corner kick. After a teasing corner that was whipped into the back post by Keren Maze, the senior midfielder headed a ball that rang off the crossbar. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native followed up her own rebound and placed the ball into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.
The second goal from Gibbons was the decisive breakthrough, as Swarthmore ended the contest with a 2-0 win.
Garfield led the Fords in shots with four in the contest, while Haupt finished the game with two saves.
Following the tango with the Garnet, the Fords have officially ended their 2023 campaign. Haverford has ended the season with a 6-9-2 record overall, with a 2-7-1 record in the Centennial. The Scarlet and Black will now use the spring season to prepare for the 2024 journey, which will start next August.