HAVERFORD, Pa. — The Haverford College men's soccer team extended its unbeaten start to a program-record 13 matches Tuesday afternoon, edging The College of New Jersey, 2-1, on Walton Field. The victory moved the Fords to 7-0-6 on the season and marked their longest unbeaten stretch overall since the 2015 squad went 16 matches without defeat en route to an NCAA tournament Elite 8 run.
Rookie Charles Sharp delivered both goals for the Fords, including the decisive strike in the 84th minute, as Haverford continued its remarkable stretch of consistency with a non-conference thriller.
The hosts struck first less than eight minutes into the contest. Off a well-placed corner kick from Thomas Vanni, Kieran Kunihiro headed the ball into the path of Sharp, who finished from close range to give Haverford an early 1-0 advantage. The Fords controlled much of the first half, generating quality chances through Jonathan D'Amour and Andrew Fritz while limiting the visitors from the Garden State to few opportunities.
The Lions equalized in the 79th minute when Chris Meder converted from the penalty spot, momentarily halting Haverford's momentum.
But the Fords responded swiftly and decisively. Pressing forward, a long throw-in from Conrad Coyanda-Parkzes deflected off the TCNJ defense and found Vanni waiting at the top of the box. Vanni unleashed a curling shot that Sharp redirected off his cleat and in. The first-year forward, positioned perfectly in the box, buried his second goal of the match to restore the lead just four minutes after the Lions' equalizer. Goalkeeper Grayson Benson earned the win, going the full 90 minutes with one save. The Haverford back line absorbed late pressure from the Lions to secure another key home result.
Sharp paced the Fords' attack with four shots, while Vanni and Kunihiro each recorded assists. For TCNJ, Meder finished with a goal on two shots, and goalkeeper Carson Dodd made two saves in a full-match effort.
The Fords will look to continue their historic run when they travel to another unbeaten side in ninth-ranked Dickinson on Saturday, Oct. 11, for a 3 p.m. Centennial Conference matchup in Carlisle, Pa.
