PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team makes the trek north to Cambridge Saturday to begin Ivy League play against defending league champion Harvard following a challenging non-conference slate to open the 2017 season. Kickoff from Jordan Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, and the match will be broadcast on the Ivy League Network.
GAME INFORMATION
PENN (1-5-2, 0-2-2 Away) at HARVARD (6-3, 3-0 Home)
Sat., September 23 | 1 p.m. | Jordan Field - Cambridge, Mass. |
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PREVIEWING PENN
*Penn returns to action after playing to a 1-2 record in three games last week. The Quakers took down Delaware, 1-0, at Rhodes Field September 11 behind
Erica Higa's second goal of the season just 54 seconds into the match. The Quakers concluded the week with consecutive losses on the road to Drexel - despite
Allie Trzaska's late equalizer - and George Mason.
*Higa's goal in the first 54 seconds against Delaware is fifth-fastest score in program history, and the quickest since the 2004 season. Trzaska's 83rd minute goal at Drexel to tie the game at one was the fifth of her career, and brings her within one of having at least two goals in her first three seasons.
*The Quakers continue to pace their opponents in shots per game (10.9) and shots on goal percentage (.402), as
Emily Sands' 17 shots are still tops on the squad.
*Freshman
Ashley Gabor made her first career start in net Sunday at George Mason, making two saves while holding the Patriots scoreless for the first 45 minutes of action.
*Penn is 2-2-4 in eight Ivy League road matches under head coach
Nicole Van Dyke, and have not lost on the road in conference play since October 2015.
NEWS AND NOTES: HARVARD
*Penn and Harvard meet for the 27th time Saturday, with the Crimson holding the advantage in the all-time series, 18-5-3. Harvard has taken the last four meetings - including three shutouts - while also capturing victories in four of the last five matchups in Cambridge.
*Harvard's back line and duo of goalkeepers have been the back bone of the team thus far, posting five shutouts in the first nine games of the season. Goalkeeper Danielle Etzel has held opponents scoreless in her last 355 minutes in net, while also ranking third in the nation in goals against average (0.21) and fourth in save percentage (.952).
*Leah Mohammadi and Murphy Agnew lead Harvard with nine and seven points, respectively. Agnew was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week on September 11 after posting five points in three games - including her second career goal - against non-conference foes Quinnipiac, Villanova and Seton Hall.
*Mohammadi also paces the Crimson with four goals on the year, three of which are game-winners, a mark that currently ranks tenth in the nation.
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