NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Opening its spring break stint with a tough challenge against No. 22 Christopher Newport, the Haverford College women's lacrosse team (3-0) remained undefeated with a convincing 13-9 victory over the homestanding Captains (3-1) at Jennings Stadium.
The Fords recorded their first victory over a ranked team since edging then-No. 22 Dickinson by an 11-10 final in the 2019 Centennial Conference Tournament first round contest. The win was also the second consecutive in games against ranked opposition.
Scoring the opener just 17 seconds into the contest, Haverford set the tone straight off the opening draw, with Roma Hladky picking up the draw control and Callie Crawford taking the ball down the field for the unassisted tally.
Christopher Newport later answered with goals from Kelsey Winters and Kendall Krause to take the early lead. The first period was undoubtedly back and forth after Haverford answered with two goals of their own. The reigning Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Sam Silverman, scored a player-up with 5:07 remaining in the first. The assist went to Katharine Ference, who continues to set up her teammates for good looks at the goal this season. Silverman netted another one just four minutes later with the assist going to Nancy Tucker. Sloane McDonald then answered back as she evened the score for the Captains just before the end of the period.
It is said that good defense creates good offense, and the Fords proved that to be true in the second period. Christopher Newport opened the scoring in the second stanza, but Haverford took complete control of the half after that tally. The Fords left the Captains scoreless for the remainder of their second-period possessions. Sarah Cahn was stellar in the net with the tandem of Hladky, Callie Crawford, Caroline Alexis, and Lizzie Healy putting the pressure on and causing multiple turnovers. Cahn finished the game with six saves.
Goals from Silverman, Tiffany Mikulis, and Crawford then left Christopher Newport with more questions than answers going into halftime.
Haverford carried a 7-4 lead into the intermission, and things continued to go the Fords way in the third period. Haverford started the second half with three unanswered goals, bringing their scoring run to seven unanswered going back to the second period. Hladky netted her first of the game while Crawford and Healy followed her up with goals of their own. When the game started to get out of hand, the Captains ended the scoring drought with two unanswered goals to bring themselves within striking distance. Hladky bounced back, as she scored her second goal to give the Fords an 11-6 lead before CNU quickly made it 11-7 just moments ahead of the third quarter horn.
Despite feeling comfortable about their lead, the Fords still had a little work to do to hold off the Captains in the final period. Winters scored to make it 11-8 a minute into the fourth. Silverman answered woith her fifth goal of the game with 12:44 on the clock, seemingly making another case for Player of the Week in the conference. Ference, who assisted the goal, earned her second helper of the game.
Hladky contributed three goals to the cause for the game, but her effort in other areas did not go unnoticed. The senior finished the game with six ground balls and four draw controls.
Things then slowed down for the next five minutes. Haverford had multiple free-position opportunities, even having a player-advantage at one point. The Fords burned some clock and looked for perfect opportunities to extend the lead. They would do just that with 7:55 remaining in the game when Hladky scored from a Mikulis assist.
The five-goal advantage looked to be enough following the goal. The energy was taken out of Christopher Newport, with Haverford holding so much possession, content on limiting any attempt at a late-game comeback. Haverford is now 3-1 all-time against the Captains in a series that dates back to 2017 and has provided some memorable early season matchups.
The Fords now will enjoy a few more days in Virginia Beach before returning to action on Saturday at St. Mary's College of Maryland. The opening draw for that contest is slated for 1 p.m. as the Fords and Seahawks do battle in St. Mary's City to wrap up the spring break slate.