ITHACA, N.Y. - The Haverford College Women's Lacrosse team, ranked No. 22 in the latest IWLCA National Coaches Poll, enters its first NCAA tournament since 1991 on Saturday at Ithaca College's Higgins Stadium. The Fords (12-5, 7-2 CC) earned an at-large berth after reaching the Centennial Conference semifinals, and will be looking for the program's first-ever NCAA tournament win on Saturday afternoon.
JUST THE BASICS
NCAA First Round – Saturday, May 14 – 1 p.m. - Higgins Stadium | Ithaca, N.Y.
#22 Haverford (12-5) vs. Cabrini (11-7)
Live Stats | Live Video | Game Program
NCAA Second Round – Sunday, May 15 – 1 p.m. - Higgins Stadium | Ithaca, N.Y.
#10 Ithaca (16-3) vs. winner of Haverford/Cabrini
Live Stats | Live Video | Game Program
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets will be available at the gates of Higgins Stadium. Daily session tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Ithaca College will be providing live video broadcasts throughout the weekend, with commentary for each contest. Live video links as well as live stats for the entire weekend will also be available via the inks on HaverfordAthletics.com
THE JOURNEY STARTS HERE
Haverford is one of three Centennial Conference teams to qualify for the NCAA tournament, joining Centennial Champs Gettysburg and at-large selection Franklin & Marshall. The 2022 championship consists of 46 teams. Of those 46 teams, 32 earned automatic bids, 13 were Pool C at-large selections and one Pool B at-large institution. Fourteen first round games will be played on May 14, followed by 16 on May 15. Advancing teams will move onto four regional sites on May 21-22, and those winners will play in the national semifinals and final on May 28-29 in Salem, Virginia.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Although Haverford is making its first national tournament appearance since the 1991 season, Haverford has made four NCAA tournament appearances (1986, 1987, 1988, 1991) all-time with quarterfinal berths in each season. The Fords are 0-4 in the NCAA tournament all-time with two losses to Ursinus and two to Trenton State (now TCNJ).
WE MEET AGAIN
Haverford will take on an experienced Cabrini squad in the first round, and one that it is no stranger to, as the sides have played nine times in program history, with the Fords holding an 8-1 edge in that series. The sides met yearly from 2013-2019, with Haverford taking a 21-19 matchup in the last meeting on March 9, 2019 at Swan Field. Haverford has played Ithaca just twice in program history, with the last meeting between the two sides occurring on a neutral site in 1999 (a Florida Spring Break Trip game).
TOUGH SLATE
The Fords solidified their position in the field with victories over regionally ranked squads Scranton (No. 9, Region IV), Christopher Newport (No. 5, Region V), and St. Mary's of Maryland (No. 9, Region VI) this season. Haverford has only dropped games to nationally ranked opponents this year (Gettysburg, York (Pa.), TCNJ, and Franklin & Marshall (twice).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Cabrini (11-7) enters the contest as Atlantic East Conference champions, winning the AEC with a dominating 19-6 win over Marymount last weekend. The Cavaliers had an undefeated run through the conference slate, and averaged over 16 goals per contest. Olivia Little (105 points) and Dana Carlson (98 points) figure to pace the offense while Caroline Gallagher is the leader on the defensive end with 26 caused turnovers as well as 29 ground balls to her ledger. In the cage, Sam Hamalak has seen the bulk of action, with a 11.72 GAA.
Ithaca (16-3) the nation's 10th-ranked team, had a breakout campaign in 2022, setting the school's record for wins with 16. Among those wins were nine regionally-ranked wins while all three losses were by just one goal. Ithaca has excelled on the draw, where they post a top 10 mark in the nation, and have been paced by Caroline Wise, as she averages more than 10 draw wins per contest. Maizy Veitch paces the Bombers in points, as she has tallied 65 goals and 29 assists. In the cage, Lexi Held is top 30 in the nation in goals against average, surrendering just 8.60 per contest.
TAKING HOME SOME HARDWARE
Four members of the Haverford squad have earned spots on the 2022 All-Centennial Conference teams, the conference office announced in its annual postseason awards release on Tuesday afternoon. Senior midfielder Roma Hladky was named the conference's Midfielder of the Year, joining senior classmate defender Maria Krieg and junior attacker Katharine Ference on the first team. In addition, senior Callie Crawford was named an All-second team selection. Nancy Tucker earned a spot on the All-Conference Sportsmanship team. The 2022 season represents the first time the Fords have placed three members on the CC first team.
NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS UPDATE
In the latest NCAA national statistical rankings, Katharine Ference ranks 20th in the nation in assists (47) and assists per game (2.76). As a team, the Fords are 21st in shot percentage (49.6).
DRAWING UP SOMETHING SPECIAL
In addition to pacing the Centennial Conference in assists (47), junior Katharine Ference broke the Haverford program record for draw controls in a single season (72) and in a single game (12 in the CC semifinal loss to F&M on May 7).
FOLLOW THE FORDS
Haverford fans wishing to follow Haverford throughout postseason action should bookmark the Haverford Athletics website and be sure to follow @HCFords_Sports on Twitter and @HCFordsSports on Instagram.