PHILADELPHIA - The No. 9 University of Pennsylvania women's lacrosse team slipped for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field, falling in a Top-10 battle to No. 4 Loyola University Maryland, 19-15.

Senior Gabby Rosenzweig finished with a team-high five points on four goals and an assist, while junior Zoe Kraus added four points on two finishes and two helpers.

The Greyhounds were paced by an eight-point performance by freshman Emily Wills, off three goals and five assists. 

PENN NOTES
* The Quakers are now 4-1 for the season, 1-1 against Top-25 opponents, after opening the 2020 slate with a 17-6 victory over then-No. 19 Georgetown.

* With 15 goals in Saturday's game, Penn has scored double-digits in all five games this season with an average of 13.8 goals per game, good enough to rank 33rd in the country. 

* Penn was perfect on clears for the game, 12-for-12, marking the second time in this young season the squad has gone without a turnover on attempts. The other game was at Penn Park against Rutgers, going 20-for-20. For the season, the Quakers hold a .908 clear percentage, a mark that is in the Top-15 in Division I.

* Rosenzweig registered another assist for the season, moving her within two assists to break the program record for career assists held by Nina Corcoran. 

* Junior Zoe Kraus, who missed all of last season to an injury, registered her first points since 2018, finishing the day with two goals and two assists.

* Sophomore Taylyn Stadler erupted for her third hat trick in the past four games, finishing with three goals against Loyola. She now has 10 points for the year all on goals. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Quakers gained early momentum with three-straight goals in the opening three and a half minutes with goals by junior Zoe Belodeau, sophomore Michaela McMahon, and Rosenzweig. However, the response by the Greyhounds would be their first of two four-goal runs in the game, taking over a 4-3 advantage by the 23:24 mark.

Stadler put away the first goal of her hat trick to silence the run at 4-4, but Loyola continued its offensive push with three more finishes with 15:15 left in the first half.

Over the next 15 minutes, the Quaker defense locked down and held the Greyhounds scoreless while Penn slowly chipped away at the deficit. Before the half, goals by Stadler, Rosenzweig and freshman Caitlin Cook had the game locked at 7-7 entering the final 30 minutes.

The start of the second half showed the teams trading a pair of goals including a goal by Kraus, her first since the 2018 season.

Again knotted up at 9-9, the Greyhounds found stride again for their second four-goal stretch to take a lead that held the rest of the way.

UP NEXT
The Quakers hit the road for their lone game next week, traveling to North Carolina for a bout with No. 23 Duke University on Saturday, March 14. The Blue Devils are coming off a 16-10 victory over No. 12 Virginia on Saturday afternoon, as they currently sit 5-3 for the year. First draw is set for 1 p.m.