EWING TOWNSHIP, N.J. - The Haverford College women's lacrosse team (4-1) was handed its first loss of the 2022 season at the hands of No. 8 TCNJ (4-0) by a score of 18-6. With all the makings of a competitive contest between two nationally-ranked teams, the Lions used a dominating third period to pull away from the visiting No. 24 Fords on Tuesday afternoon at the TCNJ Lacrosse Complex.
TCNJ was first to strike with Anna Devlin's goal in the opening 45 seconds. However, Haverford evened things up with 10:37 on the clock, thanks to Jordan Denaver's goal from the free position spot. The slow start favored the Fords in the opening period. Sarah Cahn was on her game to start as she registered five saves in the first. With Cahn holding things down in net, Haverford needed to take advantage, and that they did. Hannah Lopez scored her third goal of the season with the assist on the tally going to Roma Hladky.
Haverford held onto the lead for nearly three minutes until TCNJ scored three unanswered goals to finish out the period. What was working so well for Haverford in the opening ten minutes changed as the Lions figured out the Fords.
In the second period, Haverford got back within one score after a blistering shot from Roma Hladky for her 14th goal of the season. Sam Silverman, who seems to be everywhere on the field at once, assisted on the goal. However, TCNJ's Ally Tobler would answer immediately after winning the draw control to make the score 5-3 in favor of the Lions.
It wouldn't get much better for the Fords for the remainder of the half. TCNJ went up 8-3 mainly because they gained possession right from the draw control. The Lions won five of the seven draw controls in that stanza, never allowing Haverford to get in a groove. And that would be the story of the game. TCNJ dominated the draw controls, winning 22 to Haverford's five on the afternoon. Denaver pulled a goal back for the Fords in the final moments, but most of the damage was done.
TCNJ was the only team to score in the third, shutting out Haverford 6-0 for the period. Cahn was busy on the day, for she totaled a career-best 20 saves on the day, which is outstanding considering that she faced 38 shots in the contest.
Hladky and Callie Crawford scored to open the game's final quarter, both from a free position spot. Crawford's 13th goal of the season made the score 14-6, but it was all TCNJ for the rest of the way as the final buzzer went off with a final score of 18-6.
Maria Krieg was another bright spot for the Fords. She caused two turnovers and scooped up eight total ground balls in another swarming defensive effort.
The loss was the Fords' first season in a week that saw them crack the IL Women/IWLCA National Poll. After battling the No. 8 team in the nation, another tough test awaits the Fords. Haverford will square off against the No. 14 Spartans of York College of Pennsylvania for another matchup between two top-25 teams. The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, and begins at 1 p.m.