PRINCETON, N.J. – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team closed out the opening weekend of the 2021 season with a 9-1 setback against #1 North Carolina on Sunday as part of the Ivy League/ACC Conference Crossover at Bedford Field on Princeton's campus.
The Quakers (0-2) fought hard throughout against the three-time defending National Champion Tar Heels (2-2).
Junior
Sydney Huang had Penn's goal in the contest as she found the back of the cage on a deflection off a penalty corner. Captain
Gracyn Banks picked up the assist on Hunag's third-quarter tally.
Quaker Notemeal
*After picking up her first point as a Quaker on Friday with an assist on the team's lone marker, Huang scored her first collegiate goal for Penn.
*
Gracyn Banks registered her first assist of the year and the fifth of her career on Huang's goal.
*In the cage,
Sabien Paumen got the start for the Red and Blue and she made one save in 45 minutes of action. Sophomore
Hayley Hayden made her collegiate debut and played the fourth quarter for the Quakers.
*
Sophie Freedman had a defensive save for Penn in the fourth quarter. It was the first of her career.
*The Quakers took two penalty corners, while North Carolina had 10.
*Penn had three shots in the contest as Huang, Banks, and
Lis Zandbergen all had one apiece.
How It Happened
North Carolina took the lead for good just over four minutes into the contest as the top-ranked Tar Heels scored off a corner. UNC added two more markers during the opening stanza, one of which was off a corner, to hold a 3-0 edge after 15 minutes.
The Tar Heels stretched their lead to five heading into the half thanks to adding a pair of goals in the second quarter.
The third quarter saw Penn open up with some aggressive play as the Quakers were able to cut into the deficit with an early goal.
Huang started the penalty corner with a pass to the top of the circle, then charged toward the goal and tipped a shot into the top of the cage to get the Quakers on the board.
Following Penn's goal, North Carolina answered with three unanswered to stretch the lead to seven at 8-1.
To open the final frame of the day,
Hayley Hayden came in to play goal for Penn.
North Carolina capped the scoring on the day with a goal on a penalty stroke.
#FightOnPenn
