GLENSIDE, Pa. — Arcadia (1-0) edged Haverford (0-1) by a final of 1-0 on Friday at Jean Lenox West Field & Delran Pavilion. The Knights' goal came in the first half, securing the win despite the Fords' nine shots and five on target. Arcadia's defense held strong, with goalkeeper Abigail Fuchs making five second-half saves to maintain the shutout.
Arcadia took an early lead in the 22nd minute with a goal from Abby Stephens, as the left-footed shot marked the only score in the opening half. Haverford's defense was tested as Lily Buyer made a crucial save against a shot by Ciara Garrett shortly after the goal. The Fords committed multiple fouls, with three by Lauren Anderson and one resulting in a yellow card for Caroline Flynn in the 26th minute. Arcadia's offensive pressure included a corner kick and several shots, but the score remained 1-0 at the end of the half.
The second half between Haverford and Arcadia commenced with the Fords applying pressure early, as evidenced by multiple corner kicks at the 54th, 57th, and 59th minutes. Despite this, the Knights' defense held strong, with Fuchs saving attempts from Sophia Mitchell at 57th and Ali Dorrego at the 58th minute. Haverford continued to challenge Fuchs, with Flynn and Emma Murray's shots in the 87th and 88th minutes being saved. The half saw numerous fouls from both sides, with the Fords committing eight and Arcadia five, reflecting a highly competitive and defensive matchup that concluded without a change in the score, maintaining Arcadia's lead.
Buyer stood out in goal for Haverford, recording a save in her 45 minutes of play before giving way to Allie Billups in the second half. On the field, Dorrego contributed offensively with one shot, which was on target. Mitchell led the team in shot attempts with three, two of which were on goal. Flynn also made an impact with two shots, including one on target.
Fuchs played a crucial role as goalkeeper with five saves, securing a shutout in Arcadia's recent match. Stephens contributed significantly to the offense by scoring the team's only goal, which also stood as the game-winner.
The next challenge for the Fords is a trip to Selinsgrove, Pa., where they will face Susquehanna on August 31. The match is set for 2 p.m. as Haverford takes to the road.
