PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team (2-4) pulled ahead by a 2-1 margin early in the second half, but a late surge by No. 19 Iowa (4-5) concluded in a 3-2 loss as the Quakers continued along with one of the toughest schedules in the country Sunday afternoon at Ellen Vagelos Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
*In an evenly matched game that was back and forth all contest, it was the Hawkeyes that got on board first in the 23^rd minute to pull ahead 1-0. Madeleine Murphy finished a pass from the left side off a shot from Katie Birch as the visitors took the early lead.
 
*10 minutes later at the 32:22 mark, Alexa Hoover deflected in her fifth goal of the season off a Sofia Palacios attempt to tie the game at 1-1. The score marked the final point of the first half as the teams went into intermission deadlocked; Iowa held a slight 5-3 advantage in shots while Penn led in corners, 1-0.
 
*The Red and Blue started the second half with the advantage when they pulled ahead 2-1 in the 48^th minute. Rachel Mirkin tallied the second goal of her career and first of the season when she knocked in a rebound off the Iowa goalkeeper pads to pull the Red and Blue ahead.
 
*Iowa wouldn't go away, however, and just over a minute later registered the equalizer when Lizzy Cimilluca evened the score at 2-2 in the 50^th minute.
 
*The Hawkeyes captured the game-winner at the 56:39 mark when Mallory Lefkowitz finished a pass from Nikki Freeman to the low near post to move ahead of Penn, 3-2. The Quakers pulled goalkeeper Liz Mata with 4:26 to play to add an additional field player, but time ran out on Penn's comeback bid.
 
*Iowa held a 12-8 advantage in shots for the game while Penn had two penalty corner opportunities to the Hawkeye's one. Saves were tied at 3-3.
 
UP NEXT
The Quakers begin Ivy League action on Saturday, September 23 when they host Cornell for the start of conference play. Game time is slated for Noon at Ellen Vagelos Field