HAVERFORD, Pa. — The Haverford College field hockey team (5-1) defeated No. 12 Rowan (4-3) by a 4-2 score on Saturday afternoon at Swan Field. The Fords netted three second-half goals, including two in the third quarter, to pull away for their second victory over a ranked opponent this season after defeating then-No. 12 SUNY Cortland on September 6.
Rowan opened the scoring in the first quarter when Lily Bataloni created space inside the circle and rifled a backhanded shot high into the cage at 7:02, her second goal of the season, to give the visitors an early 1-0 edge.
Haverford answered in the second quarter through a well-executed penalty corner. At 25:21, Naomi York fired a low blast from the top of the circle that Alice Stein redirected at the left post, guiding the ball past Rowan goalkeeper Mariah Juiliano to level the match at 1-1.
The Scarlet and Black seized momentum in the third quarter. Just 1:59 into the half, Stein struck again, this time slipping free in front and slotting home a close-range finish off a sharp centering pass from Pardón to put the Fords on top 2-1. Later in the frame, York extended the lead at 42:04 when she collected a feed from Pardón, held off her defender, and rolled a composed finish inside the far post for her fourth goal of the year. Rowan nearly pulled one back less than a minute later, but Alexa Ronning's penalty stroke at 42:50 struck the post.
The Profs made it 3-2 early in the fourth quarter when Ronning slipped a pass into the circle for Mia Foti, who one-timed a clean finish at 48:16 to cut the deficit. Haverford sealed the win in the closing minutes, as Pardón pounced on a rebound in front of an empty cage and calmly tapped home at 57:01, capping a four-point performance.
Pardón finished with one goal and two assists while firing five shots, four on target. Stein tallied her first multi-goal game of the season, including the game-winner, while York contributed a goal and an assist. Goalkeeper Steph Ionescu recorded eight saves in the cage to anchor the victory.
For Rowan, Bataloni and Foti each scored once, while Ronning added an assist and a team-high seven shots. Juiliano made four saves in goal, and Sydney Kowalczyk chipped in with six shots, two on target.
The contest served as Haverford's annual Play With Pride game, celebrating Haverford's LGBTQ+ community members, and supporting advocacy by and for the LGBTQ+ community in collegiate athletics.
The Fords return to action on Wednesday, September 24, hosting DeSales under the lights at 7 p.m. on Swan Field.
