WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Haverford College field hockey team spoiled McDaniel's Homecoming festivities Saturday evening, using goals from four different players and a commanding advantage in offensive opportunities to secure a 4-1 Centennial Conference victory over the Green Terror at Gill Stadium.
The Fords improved to 6-5 overall and 2-1 in Centennial Conference play, while McDaniel fell to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in conference action. Haverford outshot the Green Terror 13-3 and held a 6-2 advantage in penalty corners, placing nine shots on goal while limiting McDaniel to just two.
Senior leadership proved instrumental in the victory, as Brynn Bickel, Louisa Coughlin and Erica Pardón each found the back of the cage. Morgan Reis also contributed a goal, her fourth tally of the season and first road goal, while Alice Stein recorded an assist. Steph Ionescu returned to the cage for the Fords, playing all 60 minutes and making one save.
Haverford wasted little time establishing its presence, opening the scoring just 1:46 into the contest. Stein connected with Reis, who converted her fourth goal of the season to give the Fords an early 1-0 advantage. McDaniel answered in the ninth minute when Charley Noah scored her fifth goal of the season, leveling the contest at 1-1. The teams remained deadlocked through the end of the opening quarter, but Haverford quickly reclaimed control in the second.
The Fords earned a penalty corner at the 16:54 mark, setting up a scoring sequence that began with a shot from Coughlin. McDaniel goalkeeper Teaghen Rieder made the initial save, but Bickel capitalized on the rebound just two seconds later, putting Haverford back in front, 2-1, with her first goal of the season.
The Fords continued to apply pressure throughout the second quarter. Pardón tested Rieder in the 21st minute, sent another attempt wide in the 26th and forced a third save in the closing seconds of the half. Haverford carried its one-goal advantage into the intermission after outshooting McDaniel 6-3 through the opening 30 minutes.
The Scarlet and Black needed less than a minute of the second half to extend their lead. After earning a penalty corner, Carolina Sanchez put an attempt on target that Rieder turned away, but Coughlin was there to finish the rebound at the 30:58 mark. The senior's fourth goal of the season gave Haverford a 3-1 cushion.
Haverford maintained its defensive discipline throughout the third quarter, holding McDaniel without a shot despite the Green Terror earning two penalty corners. The Fords continued to generate chances at the opposite end, with Coughlin adding another attempt in the 35th minute.
The visitors put the finishing touches on the victory just one minute into the fourth quarter. Another Haverford penalty corner produced a shot from Coughlin that Rieder saved, but Pardón converted the subsequent opportunity at the 46-minute mark to extend the lead to 4-1. The goal was the senior's fifth of the season.
Haverford continued to create opportunities down the stretch, earning two additional penalty corners while preventing McDaniel from registering a shot in the final period.
Pardón led all players with six shots, including three on goal, while Coughlin added four attempts, three of which were on target. Bickel and Reis each converted their lone shots of the evening, giving the Fords four different goal scorers in a balanced offensive performance.
The Haverford defense was equally impressive, holding McDaniel without a shot over the final 30 minutes. Ionescu made her lone save in the second quarter, while Rieder finished with five stops for the Green Terror.
Haverford returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 7, traveling to Collegeville, Pa., for a Centennial Conference matchup under the lights against No. 12 Ursinus at 7 p.m. The Fords then return to Swan Field on Saturday, Oct. 10, to host Gettysburg at noon for Senior Day festivities.Â
