PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team scored two goals in less than three minutes to erase a deficit and defeat Temple 2-1 on Sunday evening at Rhodes Field.
After a goal against the run of play that elevated the Owls to a 1-0 advantage in the 34th minute, Katharine Larson scored her second goal of the weekend in the 51st minute and then Emma Loving hit an absolute peach in the 54th minute to secure the come-from-behind victory.
Allie Schachter, who started the second half after she was inserted into the game with six minutes remaining in the first half, changed the entire complexion of the game, lifted the level with her energy, ability to sniff out passes and by winning tackles. Schachter assisted on both goals, the first two points of her career.
NOTES
*Penn has now won eight of the last nine meetings with crosstown rival Temple, including the last three.
*Katharine Larson scored for the second time this weekend, the first two goals of her career.
* Allie Schachter earned her first career point today on a one-touch pass to Larson. Less than three minutes later, she doubled her point total with a second assist.
*Emily Sands, who leads Penn in points, added another with an assist on the Quakers' first goal.
*Emma Loving scored her first goal of the season, pairing it with the three assists she picked up this season. Loving's goal is the 10th of her career.
*Penn has outscored it opponents 3-0 in the last two games' second halves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a quiet start to the game and neither team really managed a quality chance through the entire first half hour. In the 34th minute, however, Temple surged ahead with a goal against the run of play. Kitty Qu made a terrific save diving to her left, denying Hailey Gutowski's attempt, but the rebound fell to Emma Wilkins, who tapped in the loose ball.
The second half was a completely different 45 minutes of soccer, led by Allie Schachter's insertion. Schachter wasn't alone, though, and with just 48 hours between games, the extremely physical affair with Temple and some injuries, a modified lineup oozed with energy. Schachter, like she did all second half, stepped into a passing lane and won the ball in the 51st minute. She quickly played Emily Sands who, with her back to goal, immediately bounced it back to Schachter. The sophomore slipped Katharine Larson through when her run between the center backs created some space in behind. Larson beat the Owls' keeper to the ball and touched it past her for the equalizer.
The goal raised Penn's energy even more, and it took just 2:45 to put in a second. Schachter had the ball in the middle, cut to her right and then switched the field to Emma Loving on the right wing. Loving cut inside, opening her chance at goal and whipped a ball to the far post, tucking it inside the side netting for a wonderful finish.
With the lead, the Red and Blue continued to pour on the pressure. In the 83rd minute, Schachter drove at the heart of the defense and let a shot fly, but it soared high. In the 87th minute, Megan Lloyd met a corner with her head, but her attempt banged off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced out. Larson created some more chances and freshman Ella Wright also put a shot on target. The damage was done, though, and Penn secured the come-from-behind win at home.
UP NEXT
Ivy League play! With the bulk of the non-conference schedule in the rearview, Penn sits exactly at halfway in the season. On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Quakers open league action at Harvard in Cambridge, Mass.
#FightOnPenn
