PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team kicks off a four-game homestand this weekend, hosting No. 9 Saint Joseph's and Towson at Ellen Vagelos Field. Both games are important to the program for more than just athletic reasons, as the Quakers host their Gold in September and Believe in Brynn games.
GAME DAY 5: Penn vs. No. 9 Saint Joseph's (Gold in September)
Friday, Sept. 17 | 3 p.m.
Video Stream (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Spectator COVID Attestation (starts on 9/17)
GAME DAY 6: Penn vs. Towson (Believe in Brynn)
Sunday, Sept. 19 | 11 a.m.
Video Stream (ESPN+) |
Live Stats |
Spectator COVID Attestation (starts on 9/19)
Ivy League on ESPN
A reminder that the Ivy League is paired with ESPN and you will be able to find all Penn home games, as well as road Ivy matches and select non-conference road games, on ESPN+ this fall with the same high broadcast quality you've come to expect. ESPN+ is a subscription-based service that offers monthly and yearly packages. Click here to subscribe to ESPN+! (
https://plus.espn.com/)
Gold in September
Friday's game against Saint Joseph's is the team's Gold in September game, as the program helps the fight against childhood cancer. Sophomore
Annie Bartosz created the program when she was just 11 years old, putting together gold being the national color for pediatric cancer and September as the recognized National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Bartosz put together the foundation when she lost her brother at the age of 11 after battling neuroblastoma for seven years, to help families avoid the feeling their family went through in that moment.
The Series with Saint Joseph's
Since 2004, the Quakers own a slight edge over the Hawks, 7-6, while being even at Vagelos Field with three wins each. Penn will look to hop back into the win column on Friday afternoon, falling in the last two meetings.
About Saint Joseph's
The Hawks enter Friday's matchup as the ninth-ranked team in the nation, riding a 4-2 record with two victories over top 10 programs. Last weekend, they hosted No. 4 North Carolina for a tight 3-2 win and followed it on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over No. 8 Rutgers. With the two wins, Freke van Tilburg was named NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week after tallying three goals between the two games.
Believe in Brynn
Sunday's game against Towson is the team's Believe in Brynn game, as the Quakers continue to raise awareness for Rett syndrome. Beyond wearing purple, the color of Rett support, the team rallies around the young fighter, Brynn Connor, in her battle with Rett. Rett is a developmental disorder that affects the way the brain matures, causing a progressive inability to use muscles for eye and body movements and speech. To learn more about Believe in Brynn, check out this
video.
The Series with Towson
The Quakers have only battled with the Tigers twice in program history, back in 2011 and 2012, splitting the matchups. With both only being one-goal differences, Penn took the more recent victory on Franklin Field, 4-3, in 2012 following a game-winning finish in the 63rd minute by Julie Tahan.
About Towson
The Tigers enter the weekend looking for their first win of the season, starting the season off 0-5. They will be making the trip to Philadelphia for two games, taking on La Salle on Friday prior to the Quakers. In their most recent matchup on Sunday, the Tigers fell in overtime to Rider, 3-2, following a deflected shot in the 68th minute.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn has put together back-to-back victories entering Friday's matchup, defeating Philly rivals in Drexel and Villanova. Between the two games, the Quakers have totaled seven goals and a shutout.
*With two impressive performances last weekend, senior captain
Gracyn Banks was tabbed Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career. She totaled two goals against Drexel and followed with a full 60 minutes on the backline against Villanova to surrender just four shots, helping Penn to its first shutout of the season.
*Banks currently leads the team in points with five, while
Sydney Huang and
Allison Kuzyk come in close behind with four each.
*Sophomore keeper
Sabien Paumen has registered back-to-back wins inside the cage, giving up just three goals while making 11 saves. Against Drexel, she set a career mark with eight saves and answered with her first collegiate shutout against Villanova with three saves.
*In Sunday's matchup against Towson, senior captain
Maddy Fagan will be battling against her mother, Tiger head coach E.A. Jackson. This is not the first time the two have gone up against one another, as Fagan competed against her mother's high school team back in Virginia. Fagan played for Covenant School and Jackson coached at Albemarle High School.
#FightOnPenn
