PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team battled FDU to a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon at Rhodes Field in the Quakers' 2026 home opener.
The Quakers (0-1-1) controlled the game on the offensive end, outshooting the Knights (0-2-1), 11-5, and putting four shots on goal. Penn goalkeeper Megan Graves made three saves to record her first shutout of the season.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn held an 11-5 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in shots on goal.
*The Quakers earned two corner kicks, while FDU had two.
*Megan Graves played all 90 minutes in between the pipes and made three saves to earn the shutout.
*Casey Forman led the Quakers with two shots on goal.
*Avery Chapel and Karly Murless also tallied two shots while five additional Quakers notched at least one.
How it happened
Penn came out aggressively in its home opener, creating the first scoring opportunity of the match in the opening five minutes. Forman got her head on a cross into the box but FDU goalkeeper Rosemarie Leblanc denied it with a diving save.
The Knights responded with their first shot in the 32nd minute, but Graves was there to keep the match scoreless.
The Red and Blue continued to generate chances late in the opening half, with Karly Murlless sending a shot wide in the 40th minute. The Quakers and Knights entered halftime still deadlocked at 0-0.
Penn turned up the offensive pressure even more in the second half. A quaker corner kick in the 51st minute led to an opportunity for Hailey Adamsky which was quickly followed-up by a breakaway opportunity for Forman. Leblanc managed to turn away both shots to preserve the scoreless deadlock.
The Quakers continued to apply pressure with Chapel, Eden Veenema and Kylie Emanuel each registering shots during a strong stretch of Penn possession. Penn earned a pair of corner kicks in the second half as it looked to break through.
Graves kept FDU off the scoreboard on the other end, recording saves on shots from Ana Salas in the 65th minute and Candela Espana in the 70th minute. The Knights' best opportunity came in the 58th minute, when a free kick found Marina Burzaco who headed the ball off the post.
Penn continued to create opportunities in the final 15 minutes. Lily White connected on a pass to a driving Abbey Cook who forced another save from Leblanc in the 81st minute.
The Quakers had one final opportunity in the closing minutes when Murlless sent a shot toward the top of the net, but it went just high as the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
The Red and Blue return to action Thursday at 6 p.m. when they host George Washington.
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