PHILADELPHIA - Erica Higa found the back of the net in the first 45 seconds of the University of Pennsylvania women's soccer match against Delaware Monday night, lifting the Quakers to their first win of the season, 1-0. Goalkeeper
Kitty Qu added four saves on the defensive end to post her second shutout of the season as the Penn defense stood tall in the closing minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
*The Quakers came out aggressively out of the gates Monday night, starting with
Katharine Larson taking the ball down the right wing on Penn's first possession. Upon approaching the box, Larson served the ball across the front of the net and following a deflection off the defender, Higa was there to send it past the keeper just 45 seconds in - her team-leading second goal of the season.
*In the 11th minute, Higa was given another opportunity on goal thanks to a beautifully placed ball off the foot of
Megan Lloyd from 25 yards out. Higa was in the right place at the right time, but her header was met with a diving save from Delaware keeper Kailyn Rekos.
*With ten minutes remaining in the first half, Larson was back at it again with another cross into the six-yard box - this time to
Emma Loving - but the attempt was again halted by a great save from Rekos.
*Penn came out of the break poised to put the game away for good, and had plenty of opportunities to do so early. On the first corner of the second half, Higa lofted a high service in front of the net and
Miranda Schwartz timed it perfectly, however her header landed just above the crossbar as the lead remained at one.
*After a potential scoring opportunity went awry for the Blue Hens, the Quakers went on the counter-attack with
Darby Mason finding
Paige Howard from eight yards out, but once again Penn was denied on the way in.
*Delaware (2-3-2) did all it could to muster up one last chance on goal, but
Kitty Qu made two saves in the final ten minutes to secure the 1-0 win and her second shutout of the young season.
WHAT'S NEXT
Penn (1-3-2) makes the short trek up 33rd Street to take on Drexel Thursday in non-conference action. Kick off is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Vidas Field.
#FightOnPenn
