HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College Field Hockey team (2-1) became the first team to score on Christopher Newport (3-0) so far this season, but dropped a Sunday morning contest to the seventh-ranked Captains by a 4-1 final.
A scoreless first quarter saw neither team register a shot as both sides looked to feel out the offensive rhythm of the game. Haverford had the first penalty corner opportunity of the game in the seventh minute, but the first shot of the contest came in the 20th minute with Maddison Steele getting a solid attempt on cage where Mary Smith was called into action to turn away the opportunity.
The visitors registered a subsequent corner, but some strong defending from the Fords kept the Captains off the scoreboard. Haverford earned a corner on their ensuing offensive possession, with Naomi York rocketing a shot that was saved by Lily Kerr. The first goal of the contest came shortly before halftime as a penalty corner opportunity led to Avery Mast getting free in front of the goal mouth, where she was waiting to tap in an entry pass from Courtney Hughlett for the 1-0 advantage.
Coming out of the halftime break, a breakaway by Delaney Norr led to a sudden collision between the CNU attacker and Mary Smith. Smith made a valiant save, but the ball redirected to a trailing Steele with no one to beat, as she tapped in the second goal of the contest.
Hughlett missed wide on a penalty stroke in the 40th minute, and the Fords had a strong chance in the 49th as Erica Pardon just narrowly missed wide on a strong shot attempt. Evans added an insurance goal in the 54th minute to put the visitors up 3-0, but the Fords were not done as they lit the lamp in the 57th minute. Off a restart from the run of play, Naomi York sent a perfectly placed cross-cage pass to Pardon, who finished to put Haverford on the scoreboard.
A 59th-minute strike from Sierra Pratzner put the Captains up by three goals yet again, while Rachel Marlin got one last shot on frame in the waning seconds for Haverford.
Christopher Newport held a 20-6 advantage in shots, and a 12-3 edge in corners, while Smith made 10 saves for the Fords.
Field Hockey will now return to action in six days time with another home non-conference matchup against Alvernia. The Golden Wolves will visit Swan Field for a 1 p.m. first pass on September 14.
