FAIRFAX, Va. – The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team battled George Mason on Thursday night, falling to the Patriots, 1-0, at George Mason Stadium to open the 2026 season.
The Patriots (2-1-0) scored the game's lone goal in the 15th minute on a penalty kick from Molly Starner. Penn (0-1-0) continued to battle throughout the remainder of the match, but the Quakers were unable to find the back of the net.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn secured a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks, with all six of the Quakers' corners coming in the second half.
*George Mason held an 11-4 edge in shots and a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal.
*Senior goalkeeper Megan Graves made three saves on the night playing all 90 minutes.
*Zula Root recorded Penn's lone shot on goal, forcing a save from George Mason goalkeeper Libby Davy in the 62nd minute.
*Eden Veenema, Hailey Adamsky, and Lily White each registered a shot for the Quakers.
How it happened
George Mason came out aggressively, creating several early opportunities. However, the Quakers' defense kept the contest scoreless through the opening 14 minutes.
The Patriots found the back of the net in the 15th minute after a Penn handball resulted in a penalty kick. Starner converted on the early opportunity, giving George Mason a 1-0 lead.
Penn looked to answer, but the Patriots' defense held the Quakers without a shot on goal during the opening 45 minutes. Graves kept the Red and Blue within a goal late in the half, making a save on George Mason's Kylie Beauregard in the 42nd minute.
Penn's best scoring opportunity came in the 62nd minute. Adamsky served a cross into the far side of the box which found Zula Root. Root sent a shot toward the bottom-left corner, but Davy made the save to preserve the Patriots' one-goal advantage.
Graves continued to keep the Quakers within striking distance, making saves on Beauregard in the 52nd minute and Mia Casciani in the 65th minute.
https://x.com/PennWSoccer/status/2090602676899766506?s=20
Penn applied pressure late in the match, earning two corner kicks in the 80th minute and another in the 89th, but it could not find the equalizer as George Mason held on to claim a 1-0 victory.
The Red and Blue return to action at 5 p.m. on Sunday, hosting FDU for their 2026 home opener at Rhodes Field.
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