HAVERFORD, Pa. — The No. 21 Haverford College field hockey team opened its 2026 season Tuesday evening against Lebanon Valley at Swan Field, but the contest was suspended at halftime due to lightning in the area with the Fords holding a 1-0 advantage.
The game will resume from the start of the third quarter at a date and time to be determined.
Haverford struck first midway through the opening quarter. After earning the game's first penalty corner, Lily Gover put an attempt on cage that was turned aside by Lebanon Valley goalkeeper Ella Weidenhammer. Moments later, Louisa Coughlin found the back of the cage at the 4:25 mark, with a spinning shot to the far post, for her first goal of the season, giving the Fords a 1-0 advantage.
Lebanon Valley responded with pressure of its own later in the opening period, but Steph Ionescu was up to the challenge in the Haverford cage. Ionescu turned away attempts from Abby Rodenberger and Claire Weidenhammer before making another stop on Danika Setlock as the Fords carried their one-goal edge into the first-quarter break.
Haverford increased the pressure offensively in the second quarter, generating six shots during the period. Gover tested Weidenhammer early in the frame before Alice Stein forced another save later in the quarter.
The Fords produced their most dangerous sequence of the half in the closing minutes. Stein put another shot on goal before Erica Pardón struck the post. Lydia Moy and Pardón followed with shots on cage, but Weidenhammer made consecutive saves to keep the Dutchmen within one.
Lebanon Valley nearly equalized just before halftime, with Lilah Shaub registering back-to-back shots in the final seconds of the second quarter. Ionescu stopped both attempts to preserve Haverford's 1-0 advantage through 30 minutes.
Through two quarters, Haverford holds an 8-7 edge in shots and a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal, while each team has earned one penalty corner. Ionescu has recorded six saves without allowing a goal, while Weidenhammer has made six stops for Lebanon Valley.
The suspended contest will resume with Haverford leading 1-0 at the start of the third quarter. A date and time for the resumption will be announced when determined.
