PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team (0-3) took on their second-straight top 10 opponent in 6^th-ranked Delaware (4-1) on Friday afternoon but fell to the Blue Hens by a 2-1 margin at Ellen Vagelos Field. The match marked the Red and Blue's third home game in as many efforts to start the 2017 season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
*Penn and Delaware traded blows in the opening minutes as neither team could find solid looks on net. The Quakers had their best look of the half in the 16^th minute when Gina Guccione put a cross through the middle of the circle, but no one was there to put it home.
 
*Delaware was first to get on the board in the 29^th minute as they took a 1-0 lead. Lotte de Koning finished to the low post off a deflection in the circle as the half closed in favor of the visitors.
 
*Coming out of intermission, Penn saw good looks at net as they opened the second half with a slight advantage. Alexa Hoover registered her first goal of the season off a great hustle play in the 47^th minute when she intercepted a Delaware defensive pass and rocketed it to the top of the net to make it a 1-1 contest.
 
*Delaware was quick to counter following the tally and rattled off five straight penalty corners as they took a slight offensive advantage. de Koning scored what would be the game-winner in the 54^th minute off a straight shot from the right side of the circle that just snuck past Penn goaltender Liz Mata.
 
*The Quakers counted and played with an extra field player in the final 1:39 of the match following a timeout, but couldn't overcome the deficit for the win. The Blue Hens held a 15-8 advantage in shots and a 9-3 lead in penalty corners for the match, while saves were tied at four apiece.  
 
UP NEXT
The Quakers return to Ellen Vagelos Field for their fourth-straight home game on Sunday, September 10 when they host Villanova for the start of City 6 action. Game time is slated for noon and will serve as Penn's Believe in Brynn contest.