BRYN MAWR, Pa. - The Haverford College field hockey team (8-8, 2-7 CC) was upended by Bi-Co neighbor Bryn Mawr (14-2, 7-2 CC), falling by a 3-2 final in a tense battle on Applebee Field. The Fords received goals from juniors Kelsey Chai and Ariana Sulpizio, as the Fords answered each of the opening two Owls goals within moments. Bryn Mawr held a 15-6 advantage in shots, while penalty corners were knotted at 8-8 at the final whistle.
Bryn Mawr opened the scoring with just seconds to go before the first quarter buzzer sounded. The Owls were awarded a penalty corner with just 13 seconds remaining in the period. Lydia Fisher found Sara Rilatt for a score, giving the hosts the 1-0 lead heading into the second.
The Fords scored on their first offensive chance of the second quarter, after earning a penalty corner. Casey Wakai inserted the try to Roxy Vassighi at the top of the circle. Vassighi delivered a crafty back-heel pass to Kelsey Chai on the wing, as Chai rocketed a shot towards the far post to tie the contest at 1-1. Chai was credited with her sixth goal of the season while Vassighi picked up her team-leading ninth assist of 2019 with the helper.
The 1-1 tie held at the halftime intermission, and Hannah Roth denied a trio of swarming Bryn Mawr shot attempts in the 32nd minute, as the Owls came charging out of the gates. From that point, it was Haverford who controlled most of the tempo in the penultimate quarter before Grace Morris was able to corral a deflection off a previous missed shot and chip her return attempt high in the air and over the head of Roth to give Bryn Mawr a 2-1 advantage in the 39th minute.
Undaunted, the Fords went back to work offensively, with Ariana Sulpizio connecting for a score on the very next Haverford chance. Wakai jetted a cross into the circle, where the ball found the stick of a Bryn Mawr defender. After a failed clearance attempt from the back line, the ball found the waiting stick of Sulpizio, who swiftly added her team-leading eighth goal of the year to once again even the score at 2-2.
As the game reached its final quarter, Haverford maintained its offensive intensity, earning a pair of penalty corners in the 54th minute. Vassighi rocketed a pair of shots towards frame, but one was blocked and another was saved by a lunging Maggie Titus.
The Owls took a late penalty corner with under three minutes left to go in regulation, with Lydia Fisher finding Sara Rilatt yet again, to give Bryn Mawr the late lead as the proven formula from earlier in the contest worked again for the hosts.
Haverford, suddenly, forced to chase the equalizer, quickly regained possession and went to work with some renewed ferocity in the attacking third. Haverford succesfully gained consecutive penalty corner attempts in the closing moments. Vassighi again pierced a shot towards goal that Titus was able to make a save on, before Kelsey Chai had one more last-ditch effort blocked with just over a minute left in regulation.
Sunny Truslow and Hannah Roth each made three saves between the pipes for the Fords. Vassighi led the way with three total shots, including two on frame. Kelly Bergman and Morris each had a game-best four shot attempts for Bryn Mawr while Titus made a pair of saves.
The Fords will now return to action on Saturday with a Hood Trophy rivalry matchup against Swarthmore in the regular season finale (7-9, 3-6 CC). The contest is also Senior Day at Swan Field as the Fords will honor their six seniors prior to first pass.