Conestoga downs Haverford High, 4-1

A glance at the clock showed no time, but five players in Conestoga's maroon-and-black lined up in a half moon around the arc, ready to strike.

The Pioneers, leading Haverford High by a goal, drew a corner with 10 seconds left in the first half and let the clock bleed as they set up.

The rule is that the ensuing corner can continue until the ball is scored or leaves the penalty area, at which point the half is over.

Conestoga's Casey Allen surveyed the field before sending the ball to her left, right on the stick of teammate Meredith Ross, who launched a shot from four feet inside the penalty arc.

It hit pay dirt with a thud, and Conestoga's lead doubled heading into halftime.

Ross' play - the second of her three goals - was a microcosm of everything that went right for Conestoga in its 4-1 win over visiting Haverford High in the second round of the District 1 Class AAA field hockey tournament.

The Pioneers scored on three of their five first-half corners, including a pair from Ross, to build a 3-1 lead. They fought a relentless downpour that - at least for the first 10 minutes - equalized the playing field.

"Haverford came out strong, and they were busting their butts to get to those 50-50 balls," Conestoga coach Megan Smyth said.

A goal by Charlotte De Vries with nine minutes to go in the half, off a corner feed from Casey Allen, put Conestoga up, 2-1.

Then came Ross's inspired empty-clock marker, and another in the second half - in a scrum following a corner, of course - put the game away.

"We have people who can take shots, receive, do whatever on corners," Ross said. "Corners are really one of our strengths."

On Wednesday, it showed.

Haverford High 1 0 - 1

Conestoga 3 1 - 4

Goals: H-Laura Winters 1; C-Meredith Ross 3, Charlotte De Vries 1.

Saves: H-Emily DiGaetano 14; C-Ivy Hollander 5.