PHILADELPHIA – Riding a four-game win streak, the University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team storms into Ivy League play on Saturday, September 22 when Harvard comes to Rhodes Field at 4 p.m.
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MATCH DAY 8 - Penn (6-1-0, 0-0 Ivy League) vs. Harvard (3-4, 0-0 Ivy League)
Saturday, September 22 | 4 p.m. | Rhodes Field | Live Stats | ESPN+
Series Information
Records: Harvard leads Penn 18-6-3 | Last meeting: 2017 (Penn, 1-0)
Historically, the Crimson have held the upper hand in the series, but Penn snapped a four-game losing streak to Harvard last year when it traveled to Cambridge, Mass. and left with a 1-0 road win thanks to an Emma Loving game winner. This matchup usually marks the start of Ivy League play for both teams; the Quakers have started 1-0 in league play just three times in the last nine years, but one of them led to an Ivy championship (2010).
Dominant D
Through seven games, Penn has allowed just three goals – two coming off free kicks against Navy – behind a stout back four and more solid play from 2017 first-team All-Ivy keeper Kitty Qu. Just four teams in the country have conceded fewer goals this season than the Quakers, and Penn is 16th in goals-against average – both are the best of all Ivy League teams. Additionally, Penn has completed five clean sheets already in 2018, and sits in a tie for 10th in shutout percentage in the nation.
Qu's Quest for History
After shutting out Towson, 1-0, on the road last Sunday, Qu completed her 14th-career solo clean sheet, the most in program history. This season, the junior already has four, one off her career high. She ranks 25th in the country in goals-against average (.462) and save percentage (.880) and 28th in shutouts (4); the latter two both lead the Ivy League. If the season ended today, Qu's save percentage would rank tied for third-highest in Penn history (her .890 mark from 2017 is second).
High Tide Lifts All Quakers
A huge reason for Penn's success is the balance on the stat sheet; through seven games, 11 Quakers have recorded a point and seven have scored. In turn, with so many different players getting into the action, the goals keep pouring in. Penn's 2.143 scoring average is tops in the Ivy League and its two assists per game also leads the league.
League Leaders
Qu leads the Ivy League in a number of categories, but Allie Trzaska and Emily Sands also top the league in some offensive numbers. Trzaska's five assists place her eighth in the country in assists per game, but also leads the Ivy League. Sands, who has scored twice in 1-0 results this year, has a league-high three game-winning goals.
6-1 Start… Since When?
The 6-1 start is the best since 1998, but, in that year, Penn fell to Harvard in the Ivy League season opener. With a win on Saturday, 7-1 will be the best start in program history.
Previewing the Crimson
Harvard arrives in University City at 3-4, coming off a 2-0 home win over Northeastern. The Crimson have three shutouts through their opening seven games, but also have been shut out twice. Leah Mohammadi leads the team with four goals, while freshman Sophie Hirst has scored three times and added an assist through the early portion of her rookie campaign.
#FightOnPenn
