HAVERFORD, Pa. – Two fourth-quarter goals proved to be the difference as the Ursinus field hockey team fell to No. 23 Haverford, 2-0, on Wednesday evening at Swan Field.
With the loss, the Bears drop to 4-7 overall and 0-4 in Centennial Conference play. The Fords improved to 10-1 overall and remain unbeaten at 4-0 in league action.
Both defenses controlled the opening minutes, with Haverford earning the game's first scoring opportunity in the seventh minute. Ursinus denied the initial penalty corner, but a turnover led to a two-on-one break for the Fords. Haverford's Alice Stein carried the ball into the circle, but senior goalkeeper
Adriana Palladinetti turned away the shot to keep the game scoreless. The Fords tallied a pair of shots late in the first quarter, but the Bears' back line stood tall. Ursinus responded with pressure early in the second quarter, firing three straight shots. Junior
Marie Brainard recorded back-to-back attempts with the first missing wide, the other blocked, before the Bears earned a penalty corner. Brainard's shot from the top of the circle narrowly missed the post, and the teams went into halftime tied at 0-0.
Ursinus controlled possession much of the third quarter, earning three penalty corners and three shots. Juniors
Kirsten Johnson,
Rachel Fosbenner, and senior
Rachel Buono each recorded scoring chances, but the Bears were unable to break through and entered the fourth quarter tied at zero. Haverford took the lead with 9:43 remaining in the contest, as Louisa Coughlin converted a penalty stroke to put the Fords up 1-0. Ursinus mounted a late push, generating four penalty corners and three shots in the final three minutes, but could not find the equalizer. Haverford added an insurance goal with 29 seconds left to seal the 2-0 win.
Both teams finished with 10 shots, while Haverford held an 8-2 edge in shots on goal. Ursinus earned a 10-5 advantage in penalty corners. Palladinetti recorded a game-high six saves in the loss with Haverford's Steph Ionescu collecting the win in goal for the Fords with two saves.
The Bears return to action on Saturday, October 11th, when they host Washington College at noon from Snell Field.