PHILADELPHIA – For the fourth time in five years, the University of Pennsylvania field hockey team has taken down Dartmouth with an overtime victory. Just over four minutes into the extra period, freshman
Meghan Ward scored her second goal of the day—and second of her collegiate career—to give the Quakers a 4-3 victory over the Big Green.
NOTES
*Ward scored the first two goals of her collegiate career today, including Penn's first of the day as well as the game-winning goal in overtime.
*Fagan added two goals to her account today. She gave the Quakers a 2-1 lead at the start of the second half and tied the game just minutes into the fourth quarter. Fagan also provided the assist for Ward's first goal for a career-high five points today. She now leads the team with 12 points.
*Once again,
Alexa Schneck played a part in Penn's victory over Dartmouth. After providing the assist for Ward's game-winner, the senior has either scored or assisted the game-winning goal against the Big Green for the past three years. In four games against the Big Green, she now has ten points with four goals and two assists. In 24 Ivy League games she now has posted 34 points.
*Penn has now won five straight against Dartmouth with four overtime victories.
*Penn outshot Dartmouth 22-9. It is the third time the Quakers have had 20 or more shots this season. Penn now averages 14.6 shots per game.
*The Quakers outshot Darmouth 14-5 in the second half and overtime.
*
Erin Kelly tallied an assist on both of Fagan's goal this afternoon. She now leads the Quakers with four assists.
*Once again,
Gracyn Banks played every possible minute in today's game. After 64 minutes today, she how has totaled 604 minutes played on the season after clocking in just 81 minutes as a freshman.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams flew out of the gates, forcing a save from each goalkeeper within the first three minutes of the game. Play simmered down, with the game scoreless through the first 15.
Dartmouth opened the scoring early in the second quarter, converting with a deflected shot following a corner. Penn looked to respond quickly with some increased offensive pressure. The Quakers earned a corner, but Dartmouth's Isabella Santucci was up to the task with a double save to deny Elita van Staden and
Hana Charnley.
Just over a minute later, Penn capitalized on a defensive error by Dartmouth. Fagan intercepted a wayward pass from a Dartmouth back and darted into the circle. She found Ward in the center of the circle, who utilized a tight turn to gain space before a backhanded shot smacked against the back of the cage to tie the game at 1-1.
Banks went close again for the Quakers following a corner, but Santucci saved once again to send the teams into halftime tied at 1-1.
The Big Green came out firing after the break and found the back of the cage less than two minutes after play resumed. The visitors found the ball in the back of the cage following a ball chipped into goal, but it was called off due to the height in which the ball was hit.
The Quakers used it as a warning and went the other way to take its first lead of the game. Fagan collected the ball just outside of the circle, dribbled left and fired a backhanded shot across goal and into the corner of the cage to give Penn a 2-1 lead.
The visitors tabled a quick response, converting a corner to level the game at 2-2 less than two minutes after Fagan's go-ahead goal. Within the blink of an eye, Dartmouth regained the lead as a low shot beat
Ava Rosati for the Big Green's third of the day.
With the clock ticking down in the third quarter, a green card on the Big Green's Amelie Perrier gave the Quakers a player-up advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Penn took full advantage, earning a corner just over a minute into the game. A well-executed corner routine saw the ball land at the stick of Fagan from point-blank range. The sophomore made no mistake as her second of the day tied the game at 3-3.
Schneck found the back of the cage with a flashy attack from the opening hit after Fagan's goal, but the referees called it off. Penn looked for the game-winner in regulation during the final ten minutes of play, but Santucci was up to the task for the Big Green, making four saves to send the game into overtime.
With fewer players and more space on the turf in the overtime period, the game opened up. Dartmouth broke off a counter attack following a spell of Penn possession, but Maddie Donahue's shot fizzed wide. The Quakers took the ball and marched into Dartmouth territory. Ward collected the ball with a defender and the goalie to beat, but her shot was kicked out by Santucci.
Penn continued to pressure after the free hit. Schneck took the ball and dribbled up the right flank. She centered a pass to Ward in the middle of the circle, who neatly controlled a bouncing ball and wristed a shot past Santucci to give the Quakers the victory.
UP NEXT
Penn makes its shortest away trip of the year with a jog through University City to Drexel tomorrow at noon.
#FightOnPenn
