ITHACA, N.Y. – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team fell for the first time in Ivy League play on Friday afternoon, dropping a tight 2-0 decision at No. 18 Cornell.
 
The Quakers, although a narrow defeat, still have punched their ticket to the inaugural Ivy League tournament with a 4-1 record. The Big Red and Harvard have each earned their spots as well in the postseason.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*The loss to the Big Red is the first time since 2014, also taking place in Ithaca. Penn is now 29-15-2 all-time against Cornell.
 
*In a matchup where both teams thrive on set pieces including penalty corners, only one corner was scored in the contest.
 
*Cornell had a narrow advantage in shot attempts, 11-7. Senior captain Allison Kuzyk led the Quakers with four shots, while senior captain Lis Zandbergen had Penn's shot on goal.
 
*Senior Frederique Wollaert tended the cage for the full 60 minutes, making three saves.
 
How It Happened
The first shot of the game took roughly five minutes to be fired off, inevitably being kicked away by Wollaert for her first save of the game. However, a minute later on the Big Red's first corner chance, the nation's second leading scorer in Caroline Ramsey capitalized for the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Before the end of the first frame, the Quakers had a great opportunity to draw the score even when Zandbergen sent off her lone shot of the game, making its way past the keeper by secured for a defensive save by a Big Red defender.
 
The Quaker backline held strong through the rest of the game, holding Cornell from extending its lead until the 53rd minute. After an official review following a collision on a penalty corner, the Big Red were awarded a penalty stroke. Ramsey stepped up and put it away for her second finish of the game to give Cornell enough distance to hold off a Quaker potential comeback.
 
Up Next
The Quakers continue their tough schedule next weekend, traveling to Cambridge for a bout with No. 11 Harvard. It'll be the sixth game this season against a nationally ranked opponent. Start time is set for noon on Saturday, October 21.