WESTMINSTER, Md. - The Haverford College field hockey team (3-4, 1-0 CC) opened up Centennial Conference play with a 1-0 blanking of host McDaniel (4-3, 0-1 CC) at Gill Stadium on the McDaniel campus. In a largely defensive battle, the Fords scored off a crafty penalty corner opportunity in the second period, with Olivia Ahart finding Dalia Bercow on the near post. Bercow was in perfect position to knock home the deflection for the lone goal of the contest for either side.
Haverford was forced to withstand a flurry of early penalty corners from the Green Terror with the hosts earning five corners and firing three shots in the first 15 minutes of action. With that sequence finally in the rearview mirror, the Fords became the more aggressive offensive team in the second 15 minutes of action, holding a 4-0 lead in corners and a 5-1 advantage in shots in that frame heading into intermission with the momentum.
After Holly Vincent had her shot saved in the early goings of the second half, Anna Kirn missed wide with under eight minutes to play until halftime. Eventually, it was the Fords earning a penalty corner in the 23rd minute of play. Bercow inserted a perfectly placed pass to Ahart at the top of the circle, and Ahart sent the ball right back to her teammate in front of the goalmouth, where Bercow was able to slot a one-timer into the cage past Mikayla Smith. Bercow tallied her first goal of the season, while Ahart matched the team lead with her second assist of 2022.
The third quarter was again dominated by the Fords, clinging to the lead but still searching for more. Anna Bradley sent a shot in on frame to begin the second, and Haverford earned a pair of penalty corners in the third stanza. Delaney Snowden fired wide with 11:32 to go in the third, and Anna Kirn also put a shot on frame with under 11 to play.
Haverford earned three more penalty corners in the final quarter, with Snowden having a pair of shot attempts blocked in the circle, while Ahart had a try blocked with 10 minutes to go in regulation. In total, the Fords put together an 11-4 advantage in shots and a 10-6 lead in penalty corners. Mary Smith made one save as the hosts were held without a shot in the second half and only recorded one after the first period. The shutout is the third of the season for Smith.
Haverford has now won three consecutive matchups with the Green Terror. The Fords were making their first trip to McDaniel since the 2018 season.
Field Hockey will now hop right back into Centennial Conference action at home on Wednesday, September 28 taking on Bryn Mawr for a 5:30 p.m. opening pass. The contest will be part of Haverford Athletics' Pride Week.