PHILADELPHIA – Overtime heroics by junior Meghan Ward sealed the University of Pennsylvania field hockey team's first Ivy League victory of the season, 2-1, over Cornell on Saturday at Ellen Vagelos Field for Alumnae Day.
 
With just six seconds left on the clock in the first overtime, sophomore Lis Zandbergen made a defensive stop near midfield, pushing the ball forward and dishing it across the field to Ward. With roughly 10 yards to get into the circle, Ward turned around the defender and sent a shot into the back of the cage for the victory.
 
The Quakers move to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in Ivy play, while the Big Red drop their first loss in a four-game stretch to move to 6-4 and 2-1 in the Ivy.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Junior Olivia Kenny scored the first goal for the Quakers, marking her second-straight game with a finish and the second of her collegiate career.
 
*Ward's game winner is the second of the season and third of her career. Her first of the year was against Villanova on September 12.
 
*Zandbergen's assist on the final goal is her first point of her collegiate career.
 
*Penn outshot Cornell, 18-8, with the Quakers being the only team to get shots off in overtime, 4-0.
 
*It's the second time this season Penn had double-digit penalty corner attempts, registering 10 on Saturday and earlier in the year against Towson.
 
*Sophomore Sabien Paumen earned her fourth victory in the cage, making six saves.
 
How It Happened
The Big Red got the scoring started in the eighth minute, connecting on a penalty corner and shot at the top of the circle. It didn't take long though for the Quakers to answer before the end of the first quarter. Also, off a penalty corner, a shot by senior captain Gracyn Banks was blocked and followed up by Kenny for the finish and her second-straight game with a goal.
 
Although there were a lot of opportunities through the next three quarters, the scoring remained silent for the rest of regulation.
 
In overtime, the Quakers had all the chances, putting four shots against Cornell but it was the fourth that mattered in the closing seconds. Zandbergen connected with Ward for the game winner and the 2-1 victory.
 
Up Next
The Quakers take the week to prepare for another Ivy League matchup next Saturday, traveling to Brown for a noon start.