CHESTER, Pa. – The Haverford College women's soccer team (4-3-2) received goals from Kyra Spears and Emma Murray, while Allie Billups matched a season-high with eight saves as the Fords blanked Widener (4-4-1), 2-0, Tuesday evening at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.
Spears opened the scoring with her first collegiate goal in the 12th minute, while Murray provided an insurance tally in the second half with her first goal of the season. Billups anchored the effort at the other end, turning aside all eight shots she faced to secure her fourth clean sheet of the season.
Widener generated the first opportunity of the contest in the sixth minute, but Billups was ready for Charlotte Burke's attempt, making the save to keep the game scoreless.
The Fords broke through at 11:17 following a corner kick. Emma Kirk swung the ensuing service toward the near post, where Spears rose to meet the ball and headed it into the back of the net to put Haverford ahead 1-0. The tally marked the first collegiate goal for Spears, while Kirk picked up the assist.
Haverford continued to create opportunities throughout the opening half, with Kirk sending an attempt high in the 23rd minute before Clare Hawley fired wide in the 34th. Widener tested Billups again at 23:26, but the Haverford goalkeeper denied Giovanna Chaves to preserve the advantage.
The Fords nearly doubled their lead just before halftime when Shiloh Ulrickson put an attempt on frame at 43:53, forcing Widener goalkeeper Araba Abanyie into a save. The Scarlet and Black carried the 1-0 advantage into the break despite the Pride holding a 10-5 edge in first-half shots.
The hosts increased the pressure early in the second half, but Billups continued to stand tall. She stopped Madelyn Fisher in the 48th minute before making consecutive saves against Mia Garofalo in the 58th. The latter came on a teasing, bending shot that forced the senior goalkeeper to punch the ball over the crossbar. Billups then denied Allison Gomez in the 66th minute to keep the Pride off the scoreboard.
Haverford capitalized at the other end less than two minutes later. Following a corner kick, the Fords maintained the pressure as Hawley and Cate Dugan each generated attempts. Dugan rocketed a shot that deflected off Sofia Terry in front of the net, and after Widener was unable to clear the danger, Murray pounced on the loose ball and tapped it home at 66:31, doubling the Scarlet and Black advantage to 2-0.
Billups and the Haverford defense protected the two-goal cushion down the stretch. The goalkeeper made back-to-back saves against Saylor Bare in the 75th and 77th minutes as the Fords kept Widener off the board despite sustained pressure from the hosts. The latter chance featured a driven shot toward the near post, but Billups dove to her right to parry the attempt away and preserve the shutout.
Widener finished with a 24-10 advantage in shots and an 8-4 edge in corner kicks, but Haverford made its opportunities count. Spears and Murray accounted for the two goals, while Kirk and Dugan each registered an assist. Billups' eight saves matched her season high as she recorded her fourth shutout of the season.
The Fords return to Walton Field on Saturday, Oct. 3, hosting Eastern as part of Haverford's Homecoming festivities. Opening kick is slated for noon.
