HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's soccer team (9-3-1, 2-3 CC) built a two-goal halftime advantage behind first-half strikes from Charles Sharp and Thomas Vanni, but visiting Dickinson (6-5-2, 3-0-2 CC) rallied with three unanswered second-half goals to claim a 3-2 Centennial Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Walton Field.
The Scarlet and Black appeared poised to extend their home success after a strong opening 45 minutes, but the Red Devils struck just 62 seconds into the second half before converting a penalty kick in the 67th minute to draw level. Jeremy Sallade eventually delivered the decisive goal in the 87th minute, completing the Dickinson comeback.
Haverford finished with a 19-15 advantage in shots, including a 10-5 edge in the opening half, but Dickinson held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks and generated 10 shots after the intermission.
The Fords established an attacking presence early, with Connor Gustafson sending a header wide in the seventh minute before Jonathan D'Amour saw an attempt blocked less than a minute later. Aiden Lee followed with a shot over the crossbar in the eighth minute, while D'Amour narrowly missed again in the 11th.
Haverford's early pressure eventually paid off in the 18th minute. Sharp connected on an acrobatic volley that struck the post before pouncing on the ensuing opportunity, firing the rebound past Dickinson goalkeeper Gavin Marr for his ninth goal of the season and a 1-0 Scarlet and Black advantage.
The Fords continued to create chances following the breakthrough, with Sharp seeing another attempt blocked in the 21st minute before D'Amour sent a shot wide in the 24th.
Dickinson nearly answered midway through the opening period, as Nicholas Dwamena struck the post in the 25th minute. Haverford goalkeeper Grayson Benson and the Scarlet and Black defense kept the Red Devils off the scoreboard, however, preserving the one-goal advantage.
Gustafson nearly doubled the lead in the 29th minute, directing a header on target that forced Marr into a save.
The Fords eventually found their second goal in the 36th minute. A beautifully driven low ball across the face of goal found Vanni charging toward the penalty spot, where he redirected it into the back of the net at the 35:34 mark for his seventh tally of the campaign, doubling Haverford's advantage to 2-0.
Dickinson generated several late first-half opportunities, but attempts from Maxim Temple, Rowan Jensen and Sallade all missed the target, allowing the Scarlet and Black to carry their two-goal cushion into halftime.
The complexion of the contest shifted almost immediately after the break. Just 1:02 into the second half, Rafidimahavonjy sent a dangerous cross into the penalty area that skipped through and found its way into the net, cutting Haverford's lead to 2-1 and giving the visitors renewed momentum.
The Red Devils continued to apply pressure, with Benson turning away another Rafidimahavonjy attempt in the 52nd minute. Haverford responded with opportunities of its own, as Gustafson sent a header high following a corner kick in the 54th minute before Lee forced Marr into a save in the 57th.
Benson made another important stop against Andrew Schreiner in the 58th minute, while Vanni tested Marr at the opposite end in the 61st as both sides continued to trade attacking opportunities.
Dickinson eventually found the equalizer in the 67th minute. A handball by Haverford's Josh Brown inside the penalty area awarded the Red Devils a penalty kick, which Timi Omoniwa converted at the 66:24 mark to level the contest at 2-2 with his fourth goal of the season.
The Red Devils threatened to take the lead shortly afterward, with Benson denying Roan Harrington in the 69th minute before Sallade struck the post in the 71st. Patrick McCune followed with a blocked attempt as Dickinson continued to press.
Haverford worked to regain the advantage, with Lee sending a shot high in the 72nd minute before Sho Nadata had an attempt blocked in the 76th. D'Amour forced Marr into another save in the 79th minute, while Sharp narrowly missed the target in the 81st.
The Scarlet and Black continued to search for a winner as the closing minutes approached, with Vanni seeing an attempt blocked in the 85th minute.
Dickinson delivered the decisive blow at the 86:31 mark. Dwamena played the ball into the path of a sprinting Sallade, who finished toward the back post for his first goal of the season, completing the Red Devils' three-goal second-half comeback and giving the visitors their first lead of the afternoon.
Haverford made one final push for an equalizer, but Gustafson's header in the final minute sailed wide, allowing Dickinson to escape Walton Field with the 3-2 victory.
Sharp led the Scarlet and Black with his ninth goal of the season on four shots, while Vanni added his seventh tally on three attempts. Gustafson and D'Amour each registered four shots, with Lee contributing three as Haverford placed six attempts on target.
Benson finished with three saves across the full 90 minutes, while Marr made four stops for Dickinson. Rafidimahavonjy, Omoniwa and Sallade accounted for the Red Devils' three goals, with Dwamena providing the assist on the game-winner.
Haverford returns to action Tuesday, Oct. 13, traveling to Purchase, N.Y., for a nonconference matchup against Manhattanville. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
