COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Katie Bell picked a perfect time to score her first goal of the season, heading a long free kick off the boot of Kelly Rosen and over the head of an onrushing goalkeeper to deliver the Ursinus College women's soccer team a critical 1-0 Centennial Conference victory over Haverford on Wednesday night.

Bell's beautiful header was the only scoring in a gritty conference clash against a Fords squad that had given up only two goals in nine games and was slotted No. 25 in the most recent D3soccer.com Division III rankings. It all started with a seemingly harmless foul near midfield.

Rosen teed up the ball from the 40-yard line and sent a high-arching ball into the box. Bell waited for it and flicked it expertly backwards and over the head of Haverford's Kathy Prescott, who entered the game ranked 5^th in the nation in goals-against average. Prescott tried in vain to make a break on the ball, but Bell had already sent it out of her reach to hand the Bears a massive league victory.

Ursinus (4-5-1, 2-2) threatened twice in the first half, but Prescott was there to make four big saves. Junior Phoebe Shoap put two in a row on goal in the 32^nd minute, and two minutes later Prescott stoned consecutive efforts by seniors Jeannie Jasinski and Lauren Verso. Bears senior goalkeeper Courtney Sullivan came up with a huge save in the 44^th minute, parrying a dangerous shot by Haverford's Kristen Fiore, who led the Fords (7-2-1, 2-1) with three shots.

After Bell's beautiful goal broke the ice, Haverford managed only one shot and a lone corner kick, neither threatening Sullivan as the Fords left with their first CC setback.

Prescott finished with five saves for Haverford.

Sullivan had three saves in her 13^th career shutout. Ursinus held a 13-7 advantage in shots and led 5-1 in corner kicks in a contest that featured only 12 combined fouls.

Rosen's assist was the third of her career, all coming this season and all in conference contests. Shoap and classmate Kendall Couch paced Ursinus with three shots and Bell had two.

Ursinus has won the last three meetings with Haverford, all of which have been decided by one goal.

The women's soccer team continues a daunting stretch on Saturday, October 8, when the Bears honor their seven-member senior class before hosting Johns Hopkins at noon. The Blue Jays are unbeaten in CC play after a 1-0 victory over Frankin & Marshall on Wednesday.