HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford (6-0-1, 1-0 CC) opened Centennial Conference play with a 3-1 victory over Gettysburg (4-3, 0-1 CC) Saturday afternoon at Walton Field, extending the Fords' program-record unbeaten streak to 27 consecutive matches, the longest active unbeaten streak in Division III men's soccer.
Charles Sharp continued his torrid start to the season, contributing to all three Haverford goals with two tallies and an assist. Thomas Vanni added a goal and an assist, while Grayson Benson made four saves, including a second-half penalty-kick stop that helped the Fords maintain control of the contest.
Haverford began to apply sustained pressure early in the opening half. Josh Brown forced Gettysburg goalkeeper Topher Kelley into a save in the eighth minute before Connor Gustafson and Sho Nadata each put efforts on frame during the ensuing stretch. Benson answered at the other end with a save on Tyzo Diallo in the 23rd minute.
Less than a minute later, the Fords broke through. Following fantastic defensive pressure from the Scarlet and Black, Sharp came away with the ball and quickly played it to Vanni, who one-timed a sensational strike from distance into the back of the net at 22:48. The goal was Vanni's fifth of the season and gave Haverford a 1-0 advantage.
Sharp needed less than four minutes to double the lead. Carter Kroenke sent a service toward the back post, where Gustafson rose to head the ball back across the six-yard box. Sharp was waiting on the other end, heading it home at 26:44 for his sixth goal of the season and a 2-0 Haverford advantage.
Gettysburg cut into the deficit just before halftime. Dylan Vengoechea converted a feed from James Blake with 36 seconds remaining in the opening period, sending Haverford into the break with a 2-1 advantage.
The Bullets threatened to pull even early in the second half, forcing Benson into consecutive saves on Shane Whitmer and Ian Selvaraj in the 54th minute. Gettysburg then earned a penalty kick at 60:47, but Benson came up with one of the defining plays of the afternoon, denying Sergio Neto from the spot to preserve the Haverford advantage.
Haverford capitalized on the momentum just over two minutes later. Vanni delivered a set piece into the box, where Brown headed the ball toward the goal line. A hurdling Sharp got the final touch, poking the ball into the back of the net at 62:50 for his second goal of the afternoon and team-leading seventh of the season, restoring the Fords' two-goal cushion at 3-1.
The Haverford defense protected the advantage from there, keeping Gettysburg without a shot on goal over the final 29 minutes. Benson finished with four saves, while the Fords held a 15-11 advantage in shots and a 9-5 edge in shots on goal. Gettysburg held a narrow 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.
Sharp finished the afternoon with two goals and an assist, recording five points while putting three of his four shots on target. Vanni added three points with a goal and an assist, while Brown, Gustafson and Kroenke also recorded assists for the Fords.
The Fords return to non-conference action Tuesday, Sept. 22, traveling to Media, Pa., for a 4 p.m. matchup against Penn State Brandywine.
