PHILADELPHIA - Rachel Mirkin scored her second goal of the season late in the second half to give Penn a 2-1 victory over Villanova in their first City Six game of the season.

The game started quickly with Alexa Schneck rounding the keeper and forcing an acrobatic defensive save by Villanova's Kiwi Comizio to keep the game scoreless just three minutes into the first half.

Villanova transitioned quickly from defense to offense and earned a penalty corner. The Wildcats got a shot off from the corner which was saved by Rosati, but Villanova pounced quickly on the rebound and buried it into the net. 

Penn looked to respond quickly. Rachel Mirkin fired a shot on target less than a minute after Villanova's goal, but their keeper reacted quickly to make the save. 

Twelve minutes in, Penn earned a penalty corner. Erin Kelly sent it to the edge of the circle and Paige Meily passed to Schneck. Schneck found Kelly at the near post who tucked it in past the keeper, tallying her first goal of the season. Schneck earned her second assist of the season on the goal.

The game continued with end-to-end action, with both keepers coming up with big saves. Villanova's Lydia Sydnor fired a shot on goal from a short corner, but Rosati reacted quickly to make a save after 20 minutes.

Five minutes later, Penn earned a corner. Lily Clarkson found Schneck, but her shot was kept out by the Villanova keeper. 

With seconds to go in the first half, Villanova earned their fourth penalty corner of the game. The Penn defense came up with a big block to keep the game tied at 1-1 at the half.

The beginning of the second half saw both teams struggle to get off many shots, but both Penn and Villanova began showing more offensive urgency as the half continued. 

Rosati made her fourth save of the game after 40 minutes, stopping Lydia Sydnor's fifth shot of the game. The Penn offense quickly responded, but Maddy Fagan's shot went just high of the goal. 

Penn earned a penalty corner after 52 minutes of play. Kelsey Mendell found Meily who's shot was blocked by Villanova, earning the Quakers another corner. Mendell found Meily again but the shot was saved.

Penn's offense began piling the pressure onto the Villanova defense from this point on. In the 59th Julia Russo's shot was saved from a penalty corner. The 61st minute saw a Schneck shot blocked by the Wildcat defense, and a shot by Mirkin's saved. 

The Quakers continued to mount pressure on Villanova's defense and earned a penalty corner in the 64th minute. Mendell found Meily on the corner, who's initial shot was blocked. Meily then launched a high pass to the far post to find Mirkin who tapped in from short range to break the deadlock. 

Penn followed the goal with a decent spell of possession, but Villanova were determined not to sit back an accept a loss. 

With seconds left in regulation, Villanova earned a penalty corner. Christen Pennington found Sydnor, but her shot was blocked - earning Villanova another corner. Pennington found Sydnor again, but her 10th shot of the game failed to find the net.

Up Next
The Quakers continue City Six play on Sunday when they host No. 15 Saint Joseph's at Ellen Vagelos Field at 1 p.m.