BOSTON — The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team closed out its weekend in New England as a fourth-quarter goal from leading goalscorer Madison Jiranek propelled Penn to a 1-0 victory over Boston University.

NOTES
*Jiranek scored her team-leading fifth goal in the 54th minute of the game. The goal was her first-career game winner with the Quakers. The dual-sport athlete now has 10 career goals between the field hockey and women's lacrosse teams.

*The Quakers held BU to just two shots on goal—their lowest number allowed this season. 

*Meghan Ward was credited with the assist on Jiranek's goal. It is her second assist of the season. Both of Ward's assists have led to Jiranek goals. 

*Senior goalkeeper Ava Rosati made a pair of quick reaction saves to earn her first shutout of the season and ninth of her career. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
With both teams having played hard-fought conference contests the day prior, today's game was a cagy contest. Penn came out strong, with Maddy Fagan and Alexa Schneck each launching a shot on goal in the first quarter. BU's Livy Golini was up to the task, parrying both shots away to keep the game scoreless. 

The Terriers tallied their first shot on goal from the game's first corner, which was earned five minutes into the second quarter. Jodie Conolly ripped a shot from within the circle following the insert, but Rosati went low to keep the hosts off the board. 

The game stayed relatively mellow into halftime and through the third quarter. Penn earned a pair of corners early in the second half, but was unable to find the cage. 

Both teams took a more physical approach as the contest entered the fourth quarter. Erin Quinn and Fagan were both able to get shots off with nearly ten minutes remaining, but neither effort was able to find the cage. 

The Quakers continued to possess within the Terriers' half, utilizing a high press to keep the hosts off the ball. With just over seven minutes remaining, Penn finally found the breakthrough.

Schneck intercepted a poor dribble from a BU midfielder and utilized some shifty stick work to get around a defender. She squeezed a pass through to Ward who sent a first-time pass into the circle. The pass fizzed across goal and found Jiranek at the far post who made no mistake as she neatly tapped the ball into the cage to push Penn in front. 

With a newfound sense of urgency, the Terriers locked in and sent an all-out attack on the Quakers' back line for the game's final minutes. The Penn defense bunkered down, blocking a pair of shots to stifle any chance at an equalizer. With the clock ticking down, and the hosts fielding one final effort, Rosati made a crucial, game-clinching save with two seconds remaining as the Quakers held on to win.

Penn now moves to 3-6 on the season and have gone 3-1 in its past four contests. 

UP NEXT
The Quakers will look to bounce back in Ivy League play as Dartmouth treks south for a showdown at Ellen Vagelos Field on Saturday, Oct. 12 at noon.