PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team dropped a tightly contested battle with No. 21 Brown on Saturday night in Rhode Island, 2-1. After both teams scored once in the first half, Brown was able to find the back of the net a second time to take a lead which held the rest of the way.
Penn fell to 5-6-2 and remains winless in Ivy league play at 0-3-1. Brown, which is the defending champion and leads the conference, improved to 8-1-2 overall and is unblemished at 4-0-0 in league play.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn was outshot by Brown, 17-9, with the Bears putting eight shots on goal compared to the Quakers' six.
*Freshman
Abbey Cook led the Quakers with four shots, putting three of them on goal.
*Five different Penn players were able to record shots with
Avery Chapel,
Megan Lusher,
Mallory Lucas and Cook each recording attempts on frame.
*Senior goalkeeper
Laurence Gladu recorded six saves to keep Penn in it.
*The two goals were the most the Quakers have given up in a match since September 17, when they lost 2-1 at Temple.
*Junior
Megan Lusher scored her second goal of the season, her other coming against Saint Joseph's on September 10.
How It Happened
The Bears attempted to get on the board early, but Gladu made two stops in the opening minutes. Brown continued to put pressure on the Quakers defense, rattling off three consecutive corner kicks which resulted in two shots.
In the 23rd minute, Cook got a chance with a header that bounced to the far post, but the Bears goalie was able to make an outstretched stop.
Seven minutes later, Brown got on the board when Brittnay Raphino and Sheyenne Allen were credited with assists on a goal by Ava Seelenfreund.
However, at the 40-minute mark Penn stunned everyone by finding an equalizer.
Mallory Lucas was able to find space on the left wing and left the ball for Lusher, who turned and sent a shot inside the near post to level the match.
Brown needed little time in the second half to go back in front, as Raphino broke the tie with a goal in the 51st minute.
Penn had its fair share of chances in the second half, including when Cook made a nice move at the top of the box and fired a shot that was saved in the 63rd minute.
The Bears continued to put pressure on the Quakers defense, and with 10 minutes left Gladu was forced to make another save to keep the game within reach.
Cook continued her attack on frame, when she attempted a shot with five minutes remaining but missed wide. With three minutes left, Lusher got the ball back from
Maya Leschly off a corner kick and sent a laser to the top right corner that beat the Brown keeper but went just wide of the far post.
Quotable
"A hard-fought game. While we aren't getting the results we want, our level of compete is so high, we are playing quality soccer, and we are very close to earning three points. We will regroup and be ready to go against Dartmouth." -
Dr. Krissy Turner, Douglas N. Brush Head Coach of Women's Soccer
Up Next
Penn will be back at home next Saturday, taking on Dartmouth in a match that is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Following that, the Quakers will travel to Massachusetts to take on Harvard for their final away contest of the season.
For the latest on Penn women's soccer, follow @PennWSoccer on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.
#FightOnPenn
