Team History
With the century-long success of soccer at Haverford, it was not surprising that when women's soccer began at the college in the mid-'80s, it found fertile soil and took root quickly.
Swift progress was made from a combined club with Bryn Mawr, to an all-Haverford club and then to HC's first varsity in 1985. One member of that first varsity who earned all-league status was Wendy Smith '87 who has returned as head coach of the program. Smith's teams have been outstanding, and, in 1995, the Fords won the Centennial Conference Championship.
Elena Kozakewich '06 became the Fords' first-ever First Team All-American after leading Haverford to a 15-2-2 record and top 25 national ranking in 2004. Kozakewich, who also was named Centennial Conference Player of the Year, and classmates Ashley Emmons and Meej Kim earned all-region honors that year as well, while Cathy Carbonaro '06, Andrea Fishman '07, and Ryan Hedrick '08 joined Kozakewich, Emmons and Kim as all-conference selections.
In 2003, senior goalkeeper Jen Trowbridge was named to the Third Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region, after earning Second Team All-Centennial Conference honors and setting the college's record for career shutouts. Trowbridge joined the ranks of other Fords who have received all-region recognition, including Jessica Rosen '96 (2nd team 1995), Amanda Salter '98 (3rd team 1997), Courtney Nolan '99 (3rd team both 1998 and 1999), and Liz Young '02 (3rd team 2001).
The team's rich tradition of academic and athletic success has continued in recent years. Liz Young '01, Claire Sandstrom '02 and Katrina Julian '03 were recipients of academic all-region honors, and Julian was a finalist for the college's Ambler Award - given annually to the best student-athlete in the senior class. Becky Gaugler '05 won the college's MacIntosh Award, which honors the top scholar-athlete in the freshman class, and Haverford's Ambler Award - which honors the top scholar-athlete in the senior class. In 2003, the Fords also earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the eighth straight year.
The team's schedule now includes non-league national and regional powers. The Fords also have made recent trips to Chicago, New England, Virginia, Atlanta, Texas, North Carolina, metropolitan New York and Florida for competitions against top-quality teams.