University of Pennsylvania Athletics

PHILADELPHIA – Penn field hockey snapped its five-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, shutting out Villanova, 3-0, at Ellen Vagelos Field. The Quakers controlled the early stages of the matchup, outshooting the Wildcats in each of the first two quarters before adding late goal in the fourth to secure their second home victory of the season.

Quaker Notemeal
*Ruby de Frees recorded her first shutout of the season and the fourth of her career.

*Reese Czajkowski now leads the Quakers with nine points this season (4g, 1a) after scoring her fourth goal of the year, unassisted.

*Lucy Mangat moved to eight points on the season (3g, 2a), sand second overall on the team, after assisting on Emma Nahon's fourth-quarter goal.

*Penn snapped a five-game losing streak with the victory and marked its second home victory of the season.

How It Happened
Penn came out firing in the opening quarter, outshooting Villanova, 5-4, while generating two penalty corners. The Quakers turned that early pressure into a goal when Czajkowski found the back of the cage to give Penn a 1-0 lead five minutes in.
 
Thomson then netted her own unassisted goal later in the frame, putting the Red and Blue ahead, 2-0, after 15 minutes. Villanova put four shots toward goal in the quarter, but de Frees stopped three of them to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard.
 
The Quakers continued to control the offensive pressure in the second quarter with Czajkowski, Mandato, Thomson and Jazmin Borensztein each put a shot on goal, but Villanova goalkeeper Maddi Sears denied each attempt. On the defensive end, de Frees made one save as Penn carried its 2-0 advantage into halftime.
 
The opposing Pennsylvania team came out with increased pressure in the third quarter, outshooting the Red and Blue, 4-0, and earning two penalty corners. The Quakers' defense stood firm, however, and maintained its two-goal edge heading into the final 15 minutes.
 
Penn's offense generated another opportunity in the fourth quarter, earning a penalty corner and putting a shot from Thomson on goal. Villanova's Ava Borkowski also forced a save from de Frees, but the Red and Blue continued to protect their advantage.
 
With the Wildcats pulling their goalkeeper for an extra attacker late in the contest, Penn capitalized on the empty net. Nahon found the cage off assists from Victoria Manzur and Mangat to make it 3-0 and put the game out of reach.
 
The Quakers' defense completed the shutout from there, giving de Frees her first clean sheet of the season and the fourth of her career. Penn finished with a 12-11 advantage in shots, including a 10-6 edge through the first two quarters, and held a 6-5 advantage in penalty corners.
 
Up Next
The Quakers will split next weekend with a road game and a home match, beginning with a trip to Brown on Friday, Oct. 9, at 3 p.m. to continue conference play.
 
The team will then return to Philadelphia to host Saint Joseph's on Sunday, Oct. 11, at noon. Sunday's matchup will serve as the team's Morgan's Message game to help bring greater awareness to mental health.
 
 
For the latest on Penn field hockey, follow @PennFieldHockey on X and on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.