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BALTIMORE, Md. – The Haverford College men's soccer team heads to Homewood Field on Sunday for a Centennial Conference championship matchup with top-seeded Johns Hopkins. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., with the conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament on the line.
The fifth-seeded Fords enter at 15-3-2 overall after defeating Ursinus, 2-1, in the first round and rolling past second-seeded Dickinson, 5-0, in Friday's semifinal. Johns Hopkins is 12-4-2 after edging Muhlenberg, 2-1, to reach its fifth consecutive conference final.
Haverford's 15 victories are its most since 2015, when the Fords set a program record with 18 wins and reached the NCAA Elite Eight. That team came one win short of advancing to the Final Four in Kansas City. The Fords now return to the Centennial championship game for the first time since their memorable 2018 title run, seeking the program's fifth conference crown overall.
Moving On
Haverford put together its most decisive tournament performance in Friday's semifinal at Dickinson. Charles Sharp opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, and Thomas Vanni struck just before halftime to give the Fords a 2-0 lead. Vanni added his second goal early in the second half, with Josh Brown and Jonathan D'Amour finding the net later in the match. The 5-0 result tied for the second-most goals scored in a single Centennial Tournament game. Vanni finished with two goals and an assist, while Brown contributed a goal and an assist. Haverford outshot Dickinson, 15-11, and held the Red Devils to three shots on goal. The win followed Tuesday's 2-1 first-round victory at Ursinus, where D'Amour scored the late winner.
A Look at the Fords
Sharp leads the Centennial Conference with 15 goals and 35 points, and his six game-winning goals also lead the team. Vanni ranks second in the conference with 10 goals and 25 points. Both have five assists, while D'Amour has added five goals and Brown has three goals and three assists. The Fords are averaging 2.25 goals per game and have scored 45 times this season. Their attack has been productive throughout the lineup: 11 players have scored at least once, and 35 of the team's goals have come on assists.
Defensive Strength
Haverford has allowed just 12 goals in 20 games, averaging 0.60 per contest. Grayson Benson has started 18 matches and recorded 10 shutouts, a 0.63 goals-against average and a .807 save percentage. The Fords have limited opponents to nine shots per game, half their own average of 18. Johns Hopkins has conceded 17 goals in 18 games. Senior goalkeeper John Ghanem has started 16 matches, posting a 0.82 goals-against average, a .776 save percentage and seven shutouts.
Scouting the Blue Jays
Hopkins advanced to the final with a 2-1 semifinal win over Muhlenberg. Alex Gardner scored twice in the first half, with Rohan Aggarwal assisting on both goals. The Mules cut the deficit in the 57th minute, but the Blue Jays held on through a late push. Connor Wilkes leads Hopkins with six goals and 18 points. Aggarwal has a team-best nine assists, while Brendan Listzwan has added four goals and three assists. The Blue Jays have scored 30 goals this season, averaging 1.67 per game.
The Regular-Season Meeting
Johns Hopkins edged Haverford, 1-0, when the teams met in Baltimore on Sept. 26. Giulian Laudisa scored late in the first half, and the Blue Jays protected the lead through the final whistle. Haverford finished with 14 shots, one fewer than Hopkins, and Grayson Benson made four saves between the pipes.
Championship History
Sunday's matchup will be the first time Haverford and Johns Hopkins meet in the Centennial Conference championship game. The teams have faced one another three times in the conference tournament, with Haverford winning each meeting. Their most recent postseason matchup came in the 2015 semifinals, when the Fords earned a 4-1 victory. The Fords will look to carry Friday's momentum into Sunday's final as they pursue their first Centennial championship since 2018.
Follow the Fords
Sunday's championship match begins at 3 p.m. at Homewood Field in Baltimore. Fans can watch live on the Centennial Conference Digital Network, follow live stats, or visit Championship Central for tournament information and tickets.
