HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team (3-1-2, 0-0-1 CC) and Gettysburg (2-2-2, 0-0-1 CC) battled through 90 scoreless minutes as the Fords earned a point in their Centennial Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Walton Field.
The two sides traded opportunities throughout a tightly contested opening half, with Haverford generating the first chances of the afternoon. Emma Kirk sent an attempt wide in the sixth minute before Cate Dugan followed with another shot in the 13th.
Gettysburg tested Allie Billups for the first time at 17:11, when Karissa Hufnagle put an effort on frame that the Haverford goalkeeper turned aside. Sophia Mitchell answered at the other end, forcing Gettysburg goalkeeper Anna Kavountzis into saves in the 22nd and 29th minutes.
The Bullets created a pair of dangerous chances late in the opening period, but Billups kept the visitors off the board. She stopped a Hufnagle header in the 37th minute before denying Rosie Sitman with less than a minute remaining before halftime, sending the teams into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
Gettysburg immediately threatened again coming out of the break, producing one of its best opportunities of the afternoon just 12 seconds into the second half. Sitman raced directly down the middle of the box and unleashed a menacing effort toward goal, but Billups reacted brilliantly, diving to turn away the attempt and preserve the scoreless deadlock.
Billups was called upon again less than two minutes later, stopping an attempt from Kristine Squeglia at 46:33. Haverford answered at the other end when Carly Rusak put a shot on frame in the 48th minute, forcing Kavountzis into her third save of the afternoon.
The Bullets continued to apply pressure around the hour mark, but Billups remained up to the task. Sitman tested the Haverford goalkeeper again at 59:54, with Billups making the stop for her sixth save of the contest.
Haverford nearly found the breakthrough in the 70th minute. Clare Hawley rose for a header that beat Kavountzis but crashed off the crossbar, leaving the Fords inches away from taking the lead. Mitchell later put another attempt on frame in the 80th minute, but Kavountzis made the save.
Gettysburg produced one final dangerous opportunity in the 85th minute when Kylee Gust directed a header on goal, but Billups was again there for the stop. The Haverford defense saw out the remaining minutes to secure a point in its conference opener.
Billups finished with seven saves over the full 90 minutes to record her second consecutive shutout, while Kavountzis made four stops for Gettysburg. Mitchell put all three of her attempts on goal to lead the Haverford attack, while Hawley registered two shots. Gettysburg held a 14-9 advantage in total shots and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
The Fords continue Centennial Conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 23, traveling to Collegeville, Pa., for a 4 p.m. matchup against Ursinus.
