PHILADELPHIA – Now officially halfway through the regular season, the University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team excelled on the offensive end but couldn't quite convert late in a 2-1 loss to Temple Sunday afternoon at the Temple Sports Complex.
 
Senior Lauren Teuschl scored her second goal of the year in the closing minutes of the second half, but the Quakers didn't find an equalizer. Penn falls to 4-3-1 ahead of the start of Ivy League play, while the Owls improve to 2-5-3.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*It's the first time in seven matches Penn surrendered more than one goal.
 
*Lauren Teuschl scored her second goal of the season and first since the season opener vs. American.
 
*The Quakers totaled 20 shots, three for both Teuschl and Ginger Fontenot. Five players had a pair of opportunities in Magali Capdevila, Megan Lusher, Abbey Cook, Paige Kenton and Leah Finkelman.
 
*Penn had 13 shots on goal, the program's most since the Quakers had 14 chances against Stony Brook on Sept. 11, 2022.
 
*Senior goalkeeper Laurence Gladu made four saves in net despite taking the loss.
 
How It Happened
With nearly no action for either side over the first 11 minutes, the Penn offense broke through with a succession of three consecutive shots on goal—two for Megan Lusher, one for Lauren Teuschl—to no avail as it remained scoreless through the match's first 16 minutes.
 
The Quakers that three more strong chances to score the remainder of the period, capped by a Kat Peroulas shot saved bottom center in the 30th minute.
 
All six of Penn's first-half shots were on goal while the defense did its job through the first 45 minutes holding the Owls without a chance.
 
Both offenses took off in the second half with a combined 24 shots taken. Mallory Lucas nearly gave the Quakers the lead in the 48th minute with a shot that was saved by the keeper.
 
In the 64th minute, a yellow card on Maya Leschly in the box set up a penalty kick for Beky Myers who gave the Owls a 1-0 lead.
 
Despite more dominance in the attacking third from the Penn offense, Temple extended its lead to 2-0 in the 80th minute on a Yazmeen Smith rocket.
 
Lauren Teuschl netted her second goal of the season in the 85th minute, but it was too little, too late as the Owls survived, 2-1.
 
Quotable
"We created a lot of good opportunities but when you don't convert and let the other team have a sense of belief, it works against you. We will regroup and be ready for the start of Ivy League play." – Dr. Krissy Turner, Douglas N. Brush Head Coach of Women's Soccer
 
Up Next
After a strong first eight matches, Penn opens Ivy League play Saturday at Columbia at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.