HAVERFORD, Pa. – The 17th-ranked Haverford College field hockey team (13-4, 6-4 CC) was defeated by a late goal from the visiting Swarthmore Garnet (12-5, 6-4 CC), 2-1, at Swan Field on Saturday afternoon. The result assured that Haverford will get a rematch with the Garnet on Tuesday in the Centennial Conference First Round, with the postseason contest taking place at Swarthmore's Clothier Field.
Haverford will now await the official announcement of times for the aforementioned first round contest with the Garnet, which will be determined during Monday's pre-championship conference calls.
Prior to the game, the field hockey program honored its six seniors: Caroline Channell, Ravenel Davis, Sophia Mercado, Julie Post, Hannah Roth and Keishla Sanchez, The Class of 2022 overcame the adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic to post one of the best seasons in program history this year, earning a spot in the national and regional rankings heading into the final week of the regular season.
In a defensive-minded first half, the Fords got on the scoreboard first thanks to a penalty stroke goal from Delaney Snowden. The stroke was awarded following a foul in the 13th minute, and the junior capitalized for her fourth goal of the season. The second quarter saw Snowden get another solid shot on frame in the 20th minute following a penalty corner, but the lead was just one entering the halftime intermission as the two sides struggled to find an offensive rhythm.
After the intermission, Swarthmore tied the score in the 40th minute, as Katherine Kohn intercepted a pass in Haverford's defending third and was able to enter the circle and fire past Hannah Roth. Swarthmore had two more salvos in that third frame, but Chelsea Semper missed wide on a solid chance in the 43rd minute.
As the contest entered its waning moments, Haverford struggled to break past the back line of the Garnet. Swarthmore scored the go-ahead tally in the 57th minute as the visitors earned a late corner and Semper found Samantha Meacock waiting at the top of the circle. The tally from Meacock would be the last strong offensive chance for either team.
Snowden notched all three of Haverford's shots in the contest, while Roth made two saves in her 60 minutes between the pipes.
Haverford now turns its attention to the Tuesday rematch with the Garnet as the Fords are making their first Centennial Conference playoff appearance since the 2017 season. The winner of the contest will head to Baltimore on Friday for a CC semifinal matchup with top-seeded Johns Hopkins.