The Dickinson men's soccer team added to its Centennial Conference leading goal tally, netting five on Tuesday to hand host Haverford a 5-0 setback in the first round of the conference playoffs. The Red Devils lead the CC with 49 goals scored and moved into a tie with top-seed Johns Hopkins with 31 assists on the year as well.
Senior Matt Edmonds (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) broke free and carried the ball into the penalty area, slipping a shot under the crossbar to put Dickinson on board, just 11 minutes into the match.
Senior Ryan Brown (Schnecksville, Pa./Moravian Academy) came up with a big play in the defensive end, just moments later, clearing a ball off the goal line to keep the Red Devils in front.
Edmonds found the net again with 10 minutes remaining in the half to put the Red Devils up, 2-0, at the break.
The Red Devils kept the pressure on, early in the second half, scoring twice in span of less than two minutes to double the score to 4-0. Sophomore Brendan McGovern (Burlington, Vt./Kimball Union Academy, N.H.) finished an assist from Kevin Gilbert (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet Regional) and then assisted junior Ward Van de Water (Warrenton, Va./Highland) 90 seconds later as Dickinson continued to control the run of play.
Gilbert squared up from about 25 yards out and stretched the lead to 5-0 with a laser strike into the back of the net with 29:05 remaining in regulation to close out the scoring.
The 'Fords were able to create some strong scoring chances, but the Red Devils held strong on the defensive end of the field.
The Red Devils outshot the hosts, 14-8, while Haverford held a slim 4-3 advantage on corners for the match. Jeremey Astesano made three saves and Michael Iacono came on to turn away one shot in the final 38 minutes.
Sophomore Frederick Meagher (Southport, Conn./Fairfield-Ludlowe) made a pair of saves in the nets for Dickinson. The Red Devils improve to 11-5-2 on the season. They travel to Baltimore on Friday to face top-seed and #9-ranked Johns Hopkins University at 5:30 pm.
#2-seed Franklin & Marshall will square-off against #3-seed Gettysburg in the second semifinal at approximately 8:00 pm.