Youth/High School Soccer
First goals, second half defense leads Haverford to key league win over Lower Merion
Ryan Halderman and Carly Barnes linked up for a pair of goals in the first half and the Haverford defense was able to hold Lower Merion to just one goal off a corner kick in the second half to grab a key Central League win on Thursday afternoon at Arnold Field.
Barnes connected with Halderman twice on similar plays ending in right-footed curling shots from the left side of the box for Halderman. The juniors are rivals in club soccer with Barnes, a Virginia commit, playing for Penn Fusion and Halderman playing for FC Delco.
Haverford cooking in the first half with a 2-0 lead over Lower Merion behind a brace from Ryan Haldeman.
Both teams are trying to keep pace with Radnor and Garnet Valley at the top of the Central League standings. pic.twitter.com/cnBAmubrK5
— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) October 1, 2026
The win over Lower Merion came after a hard fought 1-1 draw with Marple Newtown at home earlier in the week. Haverford has also drawn with Conestoga this season and their lone league loss came at Strath Haven.
“Lower Merion is always a force, so coming onto their home turf and earning the win is huge for us,” head coach Caitlin Oswald said after the match. “Our players knew they would have to dig deep, stay composed, and execute with precision, and they did exactly that. I’m incredibly proud of their effort and determination today.”
Lower Merion had the goal in the second half off a corner kick and had a number of other near equalizers in the closing minutes of the match. Lower Merion fell to 8-3-0 and 4-2-0 in league play with the loss while Haverford kept pace with first-place Radnor (5-1-0) and second place Garnet Valley (5-1-1) by improving to 3-1-2 in league play and 6-3-2 overall.
