QUEENS, N.Y. – The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team continued its winning ways Saturday night, earning a 1-0 shutout victory over St. John's at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium.
The Quakers (5-3-1, 0-0 Ivy League) battled through a scoreless first half before finding the breakthrough early in the second. Senior Mia Fuss provided the game's lone goal in the 56th minute, while the Penn defense and senior goalkeeper Megan Graves held off the Red Storm the rest of the way.
Quaker Notemeal
*Fuss' fourth goal of the season adds to her team leading total.
*Lily White recorded her first assist of the season on Fuss' game-winning goal.
*Graves made three saves to earn her fifth win and fourth shutout of the campaign.
*Penn has now won four straight matches, its longest winning streak since 2021.
*The Quakers have posted shutouts in three of their last four matches.
*The Red and Blue have recorded eight goals across their last four games.
*Penn finished with six shots on goal, its third-highest total of the season.
*The Red Storm held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks, but Penn limited the hosts to just four shots on goal.
*The victory gives the Quakers their first ever victory against the Johnnies, improving its all time record against St. John's to 1-2.
How It Happened
St. John's came out with pressure early, earning multiple corner kicks and forcing Graves into a pair of saves in the opening 20 minutes. The Red Storm continued to spend much of the first half in the offensive end, but Penn's defense kept the match scoreless.
Graves came up with a big stop in the 21st minute, making a diving save on a shot from Carly Schuler to keep the hosts off the board.
Penn began to generate more chances as the half progressed. Camarin Choi forced a save from Kayla Bower in the 32nd minute, while Abbey Cook had a shot blocked moments later. Casey Forman followed with a chance that went wide as the Quakers earned their first corner of the night.
The teams went into halftime scoreless, with St. John's holding a 6-4 edge in shots and an 8-1 advantage in corners.
Penn came out aggressively after the break. Cook forced Bower to make a good save just 24 seconds in and then White put another shot on frame in the 54th minute.
All of the Red and Blue's pressure finally paid off in the 56th minute.
Penn forced a turnover in the hosts' end after White disrupted a Red Storm pass. The ball worked its way to Cook, who carried forward and sent a service into the box. The ball was poked away but fell outside the box to White, who quickly delivered a left-footed cross toward the far post. Fuss was there to finish and put the Quakers ahead 1-0.
St. John's looked for an equalizer following the goal, but Penn's defense continued to hold firm. The Red Storm hit the woodwork in the 60th minute before Graves and the Quakers' backline turned away the ensuing pressure.
Cook nearly doubled the advantage in the 76th minute, but Bower made another save. St. John's changed goalkeepers shortly afterward, but the Quakers continued to create opportunities, including a Fuss attempt that was blocked in the 83rd minute.
The Red Storm pushed forward in the closing minutes, but Graves came off her line late to collect a dangerous through ball and preserve the shutout.
Next Up
Penn travels to Dartmouth next Saturday for a 3 p.m. kickoff to open Ivy League play.
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