PHILADELPHIA – The No. 14 University of Pennsylvania women's lacrosse team opened the 2024 campaign on Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field, toppling Drexel 11-8 for the 11^th straight season-opening victory for the Quakers.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Six different Quakers scored in the victory led by senior captain Niki Miles with a hat trick, adding an assist for four points.
 
*In her first game back since 2022, junior Keeley Block notched a pair of goals including a behind-the-back finish.
 
*Junior Anna Brandt and senior Kaitlyn Cumiskey each added two goals.
 
*In her first collegiate game and start, Catherine Berkery scored her first collegiate goal and sent out her first collegiate assist.
 
*Junior Erika Chung led the team with a game-high four assists.
 
*At the draw, Penn held a 13-10 edge thanks to a game-high eight by Miles.
 
*The Quakers caused 14 turnovers, as four different players registered two: Miles, Brandt, Aly Feeley, Sophie Davis, and Grace Fujinaga.
 
*Senior Kelly Van Hoesen tended the net for the full 60 minutes, making six saves.
 
How It Happened
Although it took some time for either team to find the back of the net, once the Quakers hit the first one, they kept coming.
 
By the 6:48 mark, Miles struck the first goal of the 2024 campaign, igniting a three-goal run for Penn. Brandt followed four minutes later before Miles tacked on the 3-0 start.
 
The Dragons were almost blanked in the first frame but scored with four seconds remaining, as the Quakers carried a two-goal advantage into the second.
 
In her first game back from injury since 2022, Block kicked off the scoring in the second three minutes in. She connected with Berkery down the middle of the fan, sending home a perfect behind-the-back finish.
 
Chung sent out her first assist of the game shortly after, finding Paige Lipman on a dive down the middle to push a 5-1 advantage by the 10:54 mark.
 
Before the half, Block, Miles and Brandt all notched another goal to send the Quakers into the half with an 8-3 lead.
 
A low-scoring third quarter only had two shots get past keepers, one for each squad. Cumiskey put it away for the Quakers, catching a pass in transition from Miles to shove one away on the right side.
 
In the fourth, Cumiskey added her second of the game to push Penn out six, 10-4, but the Dragons heated up. Drexel went on a four-goal run through much of the fourth. However, the deficit was too much to overcome.
 
In the closing minutes, Berkery put the final touch on the game with her first collegiate goal, catching a pass from the 'x' by Chung to solidify the 11-8 victory.
 
Up Next
The Quakers continue at home next weekend with a nationally ranked bout against No. 13 Johns Hopkins on Saturday, February 24. Last season, the two squads went to overtime in Baltimore and Penn left with the 13-12 victory. First draw is set for noon at Franklin Field.