PHILADELPHIA – An 11-minute first-half barrage that included four goals propelled the University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team to a dominating 4-0 triumph over Loyola at Rhodes Field on Sunday evening.
Four different Quakers – Paige Howard, Emily Sands, Kelsey Andrews and Breukelen Woodard – all scored between the 13th and 23rd minutes, delivering a deafening blow to the Greyhounds and scoring Penn's third consecutive victory.
On the defensive end, Kitty Qu and Ashley Gabor combined for 90 minutes of scoreless soccer, the second straight shutout for the Quakers.
NOTES
*Emily Sands has tallied at least a point in each of the last five matches. Her 14th-minute goal was her third of the weekend, following a two-goal performance at Bucknell on Friday.
*Breukelen Woodard scored her third goal of the season, now picking up at least a point in the last four matches. Woodard now has a goal in three of the last four Penn matches.
*Kelsey Andrews not only picked up her first point of the season, but her goal and assist racked up three points on Sunday.
*Paige Howard scored her first goal of the season, bringing her point total to three this season.
*Kitty Qu and Ashley Gabor combined for Penn's fourth shutout this season in just six matches.
*Twenty-five Quakers earned playing time on Sunday, the most this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first 10 minutes at Rhodes Field felt quite level and even an early shot sent Kitty Qu into action, forcing a save. After that 10-minute mark, though, it was all Penn, igniting an 11-minute flurry of four goals, completely dismantling Loyola.
In the 13th minute, off a deep free kick from freshman center back Peyton Raun, the Greyhound keeper spilled it, allowing Paige Howard to jump on the rebound and flick it into the back of the net, putting Penn up 1-0.
That was just the beginning.
In the 14th minute, Kelsey Andrews picked up the ball around midfield and played a pass to Emily Sands. Sands took a few touches, got her head up and saw the keeper off her line and decided to have a go… and it went well. Sands hit a rocket from more than 30 yards out and pinged the ball off the crossbar; it came down off the keeper and bounced into the net for an incredible goal, doubling Penn's lead.
All of four minutes went by before the Quakers knocked in number three. Sands bounced a ball from the middle of the field off to Andrews, who began attacking the Greyhound defense. Just outside of the penalty area, Andrews unleashed a shot that fizzed into the far post on the ground, scoring her first of the season.
In the 23rd minute, capping the incredible span of 10:24, Breukelen Woodard buried her third goal in the last four games. Again coming from Raun on a free kick, Woodard got on the end of it, but her first attempt was stopped. The rebound bounced straight back to her, promptly whacking it off the post and in for the fourth goal.
In the second half, Penn still compiled chances, but behind its four first-half goals, cruised to a 4-0 result. One opportunity stood out, in particular; in the 55th minute, Allie Schachter received the ball across her body, put it on her dominant left foot and hit a twisting ball that spun away from the keeper. A sprawling save from keeper Paige Sim was the only thing that kept it out of the back of the onion bag.
UP NEXT
Penn hosts another two-match weekend with Hofstra – an NCAA Tournament team from 2018 – coming to Rhodes Field on Friday night and then Temple on Sunday evening.
#FightOnPenn
