CORTLAND, N.Y. — The No. 21 Haverford College field hockey team (0-1) battled SUNY Cortland (2-0) through 60 minutes of scoreless action before the Red Dragons found the game-winner in overtime, handing the Fords a 1-0 setback Saturday afternoon at Stadium White.
Haverford controlled much of the contest, finishing with a 15-5 advantage in shots, a 9-4 edge in shots on goal and an 11-5 advantage in penalty corners. Cortland goalkeeper Sofia Cannistraci was the difference maker, making nine saves to keep the Fords off the scoreboard.
Cortland generated the better opportunities during the opening quarter, but Steph Ionescu made two key saves, denying Madison Oliver in the 13th minute before stopping Olivia Specht just over a minute later, sending the contest into the second quarter scoreless.
The momentum shifted dramatically toward Haverford in the second period. Erica Pardón put the Fords' first attempt on cage in the 20th minute, forcing a save from Cannistraci. Haverford continued to press, earning seven penalty corners in the quarter alone. Pardón tested Cannistraci again in the 24th and 27th minutes, while Lily Gover and Carolina Sanchez each put attempts on goal during a sustained stretch of Haverford pressure.
The Fords maintained that attacking presence after halftime, holding Cortland without a shot during the entire third quarter. Haverford generated six attempts in the period, with Pardón twice forcing saves from Cannistraci. Morgan Reis also put a shot on cage, while attempts from Louisa Coughlin, Kendall Fleet and Alice Stein were blocked.
Haverford's defense again prevented Cortland from registering a shot in the fourth quarter. Stein forced Cannistraci into another save in the 57th minute before Pardón had an attempt blocked following a late Haverford penalty corner. Neither side could find the breakthrough before the end of regulation, sending the scoreless contest to overtime.
Cortland finally broke through just over three minutes into the extra session. Ionescu first turned aside an attempt from Gabriella Gemelli following a Red Dragons penalty corner. At the 63:08 mark, Lillian Morse sent a short cross from the right side to Oliver, who converted the game-winning goal to give Cortland the 1-0 victory.
Pardón spearheaded the Haverford attack with seven shots, including five on goal, while Stein and Coughlin each registered two attempts. Ionescu finished with three saves in 63:08 of action. The Fords limited Cortland to just five total shots and did not surrender a single attempt during the second half before the Red Dragons registered two in overtime.
Haverford remains in Cortland for the second half of its weekend trip, returning to action Sunday, September 6 against Ithaca at 11 a.m.
