PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania field hockey team hosted its first home game of the 2024 season and walked out with a win, defeating City 6 foe Temple, 3-1, at Ellen Vagelos Field.
 
Senior Bridget Skelly led the way for the Quakers, scoring a pair of goals while Julia Ryan picked up two assists.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn won its eighth straight game over Temple dating back to 2015. The eight-game win streak is the program's longest against the Owls since the series began back in 1975. The Quakers have not fallen to Temple since Oct. 10, 2010.

*The two goals from Skelly were the first of her career.
 
*Philine Klas' goal was the second of her career. Her first goal came against Saint Joseph's last season.
 
*Ryan's two assists tie a career-high which she set last October vs. Dartmouth.
 
*Ruby de Frees had another strong performance in the cage, recording five saves to secure her first collegiate victory.
 
How It Happened
The first quarter was a defensive affair that saw neither team really gain momentum until the final moments. Penn was awarded a penalty corner with about 30 seconds left. Kylie Wall took the corner. She passed it to Ryan who set up Klas for an absolute screamer. Penn led 1-0 after one.  
The Quakers played stellar defense in the second quarter, holding the Owls scoreless despite multiple attempts. In the final two minutes alone, Temple had five shots and two penalty corners, but the Penn backline prevailed.
 
Both teams came out of the second half with the same energy as the first. Temple dictated the pace to start the third quarter, but Penn once again held the Owls scoreless. It looked as though it was going to be 1-0 heading into the fourth, but then the Quakers found the magic once again.
 
With under two minutes left in the third, Meghan McGinley took the ball down the sidelines, threw it towards the middle, finding Skelly. Skelly's first shot was saved by Temple, but a rebound off her own miss gave her a chance with a wide-open net which she scored on.
   
Temple would get on the board early in the fourth, courtesy of Devin Kinzel. Like Skelly, Kinzel missed her original opportunity before corralling the rebound and finding the back of the net, making it a 2-1 game.
 
As soon as Temple scored, Penn responded back. Skelly once again was at the right place at the right time. Ryan had the ball in the middle of the circle. She made a beautiful flip pass to Skelly who shot it past Alex Lepore for her second goal of the afternoon.
   
The score would hold for the final 10 minutes. Temple was on the power play due to a Courtney Kenah green card, but Penn was able to kill off the penalty and prevail for a 3-1 final.
 
Up Next
Penn will take on another City 6 opponent in No.13 Saint Joseph's on the road Sunday at noon.
 
For the latest on Penn field hockey, follow @PennFieldHockey on X (formerly Twitter) and on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.