HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's soccer team (8-2-1, 2-0-1 CC) defeated the Red Devils of Dickinson (8-2-1, 2-0-1 CC) by a score of 3-2 on Walton Field Saturday afternoon., picking up their second Centennial Conference win of the season and continuing Haverford's best start to a season since 2019. The match served as the annual Play with Pride match in collaboration with Haverford's Play with Pride organization.
The high-scoring affair kicked off in the 13th minute, as a shot from Olivia D'Aulerio skipped past Dickinson goalkeeper Sophia Kavulich. The junior from Haverford picked the ball up by the midfield mark, and dashed towards the top of the box uncontested. D'Aulerio ripped a shot to the far post, getting by Kavulich, to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
The Fords then extended their lead in the 41st minute off of a corner kick. Grace Haskell elected to take a short corner, playing a ball on the ground to Lauren Anderson. Anderson then swerved a menacing ball into the box, with several players leaping in the air for it. Haverford defender Abigale Baker rose to the occasion and headed the ball into the back of the net, to give the Scarlet and Black a 2-0 lead.
However, just out of halftime, the Red Devils were able to trim the lead down to 2-1. Following a foul committed by the Fords, Emily Dunkel launched a curving ball into the box. Lila Brown lept in the air and headed a shot to the left of Lily Buyer, who got a hand to it. Despite the deflection by Buyer, the ball spun into the net, chopping the Scarlet and Black's lead in half at 2-1.
The 64th minute saw a huge insurance goal for the Fords, this time coming from the foot of Phoebe Garfield. Keira Prince was able to pick off a pass in the midfield, dahsing towards the box to jumpstart the attack. Prince then slotted a through ball into the box, where Garfield fired one home, to give Haverford a 3-1 advantage.
With just four minutes remaining, Dickinson again was able to answer, scoring their second goal of the contest in the 86th minute. Just like Prince did over 20 minutes ago, Bridget Merkel collected the ball in the midfield, and raced up the pitch. The midfielder slashed her way into the box and fired a laser past Lily Buyer to knock the Fords' lead down to 3-2.
However, that shot would be the final shot to find the back netting, as the Scarlet and Black were able to hold on to a 3-2 victory.
The Fords held a slight advantage in shots on the afternoon, at 13-11, with Garfield and Ella Manning pacing the Scarlet and Black in shots with three each.
Haverford will look to keep up their impressive form in its next contest, an away game at Muhlenberg on Tuesday, October 8. The match with the Mules on Varsity Field in Allentown will kickoff at 7 p.m.
