PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team opened Ivy League play this afternoon against No. 17 Princeton, falling 5-1 on Ellen Vagelos Field.
 
The Quakers (3-4, 0-1 Ivy) had to overcome a first-half deficit of three goals to the Tigers (3-4, 1-0 Ivy), cutting it to two off a Sydney Huang finish in the 36th minute. After holding Princeton scoreless in the third quarter, the Tigers put it away with two more goals in taking the conference opener for both teams.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*The second half played closer to even, as Princeton only led Penn in shots, 7-5.
 
*Huang scored her second goal of the season in the game, with her other coming against then-No. 1 North Carolina.
 
*Elita Van Staden sent the assist to Huang, the first in the junior's collegiate career. It's her first point of the season.
 
*Penn totaled six shots for the game with two each coming from Huang and Maddy Fagan.
 
*Goalkeeping duties were split evenly for the game, with Sabien Paumen taking the opening 30 minutes and Hayley Hayden taking the second half. Paumen finished with six saves and Hayden added two.
 
*All four losses for the Quakers this season have been against nationally ranked opponents: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 5 Louisville, No. 9 Saint Joseph's, and No. 17 Princeton.
 
How It Happened
The Tigers commanded much of the first half and found the back of the cage three times for a 3-0 lead at the half.
 
Penn adjusted at the break and came out with more offensive firepower in the final two quarters. In the 36th minute, the Quakers connected on their lone goal when Van Staden sent a long pass from the right side of the circle through traffic to the back side where Huang redirected the pass into the back of the cage.
 
On the defensive side, Penn held the Tigers scoreless in the third quarter including a big save by Hayden in the goal. However, Princeton added two more finishes in the fourth to seal the game.
 
Up Next
Penn concludes its four-game homestand on Sunday, hosting No. 12 Syracuse at 1 p.m.