HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's soccer team (5-2-1, 0-0-1 CC) battled Franklin & Marshall (2-2-4, 1-0-1 CC) to a 3-3 tie, in a chaotic Centennial Conference opener on Walton Field.
The Diplomats opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute. After a foul in Haverford territory by the Fords, Zoe Warne of F&M swung in a menacing ball into the box off a free kick. The ball curled to the near post, as Kate Boujoukos had a go at it. The shot from Boujoukos deflected off a Ford defender and fell to the foot of Sophia Koziol, who buried the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Haverford was able to level the game in the 27th minute, after an unbelievable service from Sophia Miranda. After Keira Prince tried to whip in a ball from the far corner, a deflection from a Diplomat rolled towards Miranda. The senior defender one-timed a curving ball into the box that dropped right to Ella Manning's feet. Manning perfectly slotted a one-time shot home to even the game at 1-1.
Just three minutes later, Franklin & Marshall regained the lead. Catherine Finnerty made a threatening run towards the top of the '18. Finnerty placed a left-footed pass to Boujoukos, who fired a shot on frame. Lily Buyer made a fantastic diving stop, but it was Dahlia Pepe who jumped immediately on the rebound, hammering home the shot to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage.
The Fords had to wait until the second half to find their equalizer, as Phoebe Garfield leveled the game in the 52nd minute. Following a turnover by Franklin & Marshall in their own end, a headed ball from JJ Stein bounced towards Grace Haskell. Haskell back-heeled the ball to an oncoming Garfield, who sprinted into the box and finessed a shot past F&M's Lucy Fleming to tie the game at 2-2.
In the 64th minute, a foul from Haverford led to a free kick in the far corner for the Diplomats. Warne played the ball short to Grace Craig, who swiftly played a right-footed cross into the box. However, the ball continued to swerve towards the near post, eventually flying into the upper 90' of the net, giving F&M their third lead of the game while making the score 3-2 in favor of the Diplomats.
But once again, the Fords' "never say die" attitude prevailed on Walton, as the Scarlet and Black knotted the game at 3-3. Heavy pressure from the Fords forced a turnover in Franklin & Marshall's own end. Manning was able to pick off a pass from the Diplomat backline, and then made a quick pass to Garfield. Garfield then did a give and go with Manning, receiving the ball at the top of the box. Garfield used the outside of her right foot to make a pass to Carly Rusak, who launched a shot past Fleming to tie the game at 3-3.
The second goal of the year from the first-year proved to be the final goal of the contest, as both teams ended the game deadlocked at 3-3. Haskell and Prince ended the match tied for the team lead in shots with three each, while Garfield notched a goal and an assist for three total points on the day.
Women's soccer will next return to the pitch Saturday, September 28, as the Fords will travel to Gettysburg for another Centennial Conference match under the lights. The battle with the Bullets will begin at 7 p.m.