PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team opened its season on Friday afternoon at Ellen Vagelos Field, hosting the Ivy League/ACC Crossover. The Quakers fell in the first of a two-game weekend to the reigning national champions, No. 1 North Carolina, 4-0.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn had four new starters in the lineup to start the season, including freshman Ellie Almeida on the backline.
 
*Almeida was joined by freshmen Sydney Mandato and Emily Stafford, all earning their first collegiate minutes.
 
*The Quakers had three shots for the contest, two coming from Courtney Kenah and the other from Lis Zandbergen.
 
*Kylie Wall recorded her first collegiate defensive save.
 
*Frederique Wollaert started and tended the cage for the full 60 minutes, making two saves.
 
How It Happened
The Tar Heels jumped out early, scoring their first goal 2:23 into the game. Later in the first quarter with 1:30 left before the break, another shot was fired off by UNC with room to the cage, but Wall put a halt to the attempt with a goal-line save.
 
The Penn defense held strong against the high-powered Tar Heel offense, only allowing two shots in the second frame but one found the back of the cage to give UNC a 2-0 advantage at the half.
 
A total of nine shots went off in the third quarter, seven coming from the Tar Heels. They tacked on their final two goals of the game in the frame.
 
With five minutes left in the quarter, the Quakers saw their first two solid opportunities on goal. On a penalty corner, Kenah deflected a shot from the top of the arch but it sailed just wide of the cage. In the final minute, Kenah earned another chance but this time it was kicked away by the Tar Heel keeper.
 
In the final quarter, Zandbergen found herself with space down the field, pushing the ball into the arch. A great attempt was knocked down to close out the contest.
 
Up Next
The Quakers wrap up the Ivy League/ACC Crossover on Sunday, taking on No. 9 Louisville at 1:30 p.m. The Cardinals defeated No. 10 Princeton, 2-1, in the earlier game on Friday.
 
For the latest on Penn field hockey, follow @PennFieldHockey on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com