Field Hockey
#2 Lebanon Valley 4, Haverford 3

Box Score

HAVERFORD, Pa. - Haverford put a scare into #2 Lebanon Valley, but Jocelyn Novak scored her fourth consecutive hat trick and Rachel Pantalone made a game-saving defensive save to help the Dutchmen hold on and win, 4-3, on Thursday. With her three goals, Novak became the first player in program history to eclipse 200 career points.

Playing in pouring rain, the Dutchmen (13-0) found themselves in an unfamiliar position, trailing for the first time this season as they had to come back from 2-1 down against the Fords (8-4).

Novak scored first, but two Haverford goals put them up 2-1 at the half before Novak scored twice more to open the second half and Caitlin Vasey tacked on a fourth. Haverford made it interesting with a goal in the 63rd minute, and Rachel Pantalone came up with a huge defensive save with 2:03 remaining to preserve the lead as the Fords kept up the pressure.

Novak is the 22nd player in NCAA Division III history to reach 200 career points; she stands at 201, with 95 career goals. Her hat trick was the 16th of her career and fourth in as many games. Her goal total moved her up to sixth place on the NCAA all-time list.

Haverford, coming off their upset of #9 Eastern, gave LVC all it could handle on their home turf as they ripped off 14 shots. Novak hit first, scoring off a rebound at 17:39, but Mary Hobbs leveled for the home team at 23:14, and Juliana Morgan-Trostle put them ahead at 29:44 to take the lead into the break.

LVC hit back to start the second half, first when Novak tied it at 37:04, then as she put the Dutchmen up with her 28th of the year from Marisa Maxwell at 47:12. Vasey then scored what would stand up as the game-winner just over two minutes later.

Haverford didn't quit, and Morgan-Trostle found her second goal at 62:06, then frantically looked for the equalizer as she took off two shots in the closing minutes, one that cleared off the line by Pantalone and another that was blocked. The LVC defense ended the threat, however, and walked away with the win.

LVC held a 25-14 shots advantage and led 11-7 on corners. Christine Poletti made four saves, while counterpart Maggie Cronin had nine stops.

Lebanon Valley returns home Saturday to play Arcadia on Oktoberfest Weekend.