PHILADELPHIA – For the fifth time this season, Emily Sands provided the match winner, propelling the University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team past Columbia 1-0 at Rhodes Field on Friday evening in a battle of Ivy League unbeatens.
In the 51st minute, Allie Trzaska won the header on a free kick, sending it goalward. Her attempt was saved, but it landed right in front of the net where Sands pounced on it, roofing it in the top of the goal.
NOTES
*Penn secured its eighth shutout of the season in just 10 games.
*It marked the fifth consecutive clean sheet, totaling 450:17 without conceding a goal, marking the longest shutout streak since 2013.
*Allie Trzaska notched her Ivy League-leading sixth assist of the season.
*Emily Sands has scored five goals, all resulting in game winners.
*Kitty Qu now has 17 career solo shutouts, extending the school record.
*The Quakers are now 4-1-1 at Rhodes Field.
*Penn is unbeaten in its last seven games.
*The 2-0-1 start is the best Ivy League start since 2012.
*8-1-1 is the best 10-game start to the season in program history.
*Penn is 8-0 when scoring first.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the early portion of the game, Columbia created some chances coming out of the gate with high intensity. The Quaker defense, as it has all season, weathered the storm, though, and kept the Lions off the board as Penn settled into the game.
Around the 10-minute mark the Red and Blue started to reap the benefits of its high press. Columbia looked a little shaky playing out of the back allowing Penn to create turnovers and a few subsequent chances.
Penn's first quality chance came from Emma Loving in the 33rd minute. The junior cut inside from the wing and hammered a shot from long distance that beat the Lion keeper but it clanged off the crossbar. Sasha Stephens pounced on the rebound, but it bounced a little high for to put it back on goal with her head.
At the halftime break, Penn led 6-5 in the shot department.
Penn has owned the second half this season and Friday was no different. Six minutes into the second 45, Allie Trzaska got on the end of a free kick, winning a header in a mess of bodies in the box. Her header was saved, but the rebound was a juicy one allowing Emily Sands to bang it home.
Plenty of time remained, though, and Columbia wouldn't roll over. In the 67th minute, the Quakers almost doubled their advantage when the center backs got into the offensive action. Chase Geffert played Camillia Nwokedi on the wing, Nwokedi worked her way to the end line on the right side and drove a ball across the middle. Nothing came of it, but it was a quality chance.
In the final 20 minutes, the back four and the three midfielders dug in to secure yet another clean sheet and another Ivy League victory, putting Penn at the top of the table at the moment with seven points.
#FightOnPenn
