STANFORD, Calif. – The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team, on a Friday night in Northern California, in front of a sold out crowd, battled to a 5-1 loss to third-ranked Stanford at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
Two-time first-team All-Ivy keeper Kitty Qu put together a masterful performance between the pipes, racking up a career-high 13 saves for Penn, while sophomore Jackie Bruder shined on the opposite end of the pitch, burying her chance after Emma Loving fizzed a dangerous ball across the box.
NOTES
*Kitty Qu made 13 saves, a career high.
*Jackie Bruder scored the second goal of her career.
*Emma Loving's assist is the third of her career.
*Stanford's five goals matched how many Penn conceded through the entirety of the 2018 season.
*As the nation's third-ranked team, Stanford becomes the highest-ranked team the Quakers have played in their program's history. Friday marked the first time Stanford and Penn met.
*Four Quakers, Katharine Larson, freshman Peyton Raun, Jadyn Wilensky and Qu, played all 90 minutes.
*In total, 21 players made an appearance in Penn's season opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Against the best competition college soccer has to offer, it's imperative to weather the initial surge. On Friday, Stanford hit Penn with that punch, but Kitty Qu was up to the task through the early going. Qu made two vital saves in the first seven minutes, including a fifth-minute stop while ranging to her left when Catarina MacArio wiggled free in the box.
The Quakers began to settle in a bit, but that traction was quickly halted when the Cardinal grabbed the game's first goal in the 19th minute. Stanford managed a second in the 27th minute to secure a 2-0 lead at the halftime break.
Defensive organization is always key for a team that led the nation in goals-against average, save percentage and shutout percentage in 2018, but was especially crucial on Friday night against one of the country's more potent offensives. Through the first 45 minutes, the Quakers did manage to stay organized while refusing to just sit in and park the bus.
The Cardinal increased its lead to 3-0 in the 54th minute, but the deficit remained locked at three until the 78th minute. Stanford scored twice in the next five minutes, opening the advantage to 5-0, a result that seemed unfair to the visiting Quakers.
Bruder and Loving made it right in the 86th minute, getting on the board and wrapping up a 5-1 defeat. Loving darted down the right side of the penalty area, sidestepped an engaging defender before whipping a pacey ball on the ground right across the six-yard box. As the ball glided across the face of goal, Bruder came rushing in from the left side and calmly put away her finish.
UP NEXT
Penn returns to University City on Saturday and then hosts Towson at 3 p.m. on Monday at Rhodes Field. The matchup serves as the first of three consecutive home matches.
#FightOnPenn
