HANOVER, N.H. – The University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team dropped its Ivy League opener Saturday afternoon, falling 4-0 to Dartmouth at Burnham Field.
The Quakers (5-4-1, 0-1 Ivy League) fell behind early and trailed 2-0 at halftime before Dartmouth added two more goals in the second half. Penn generated seven of its nine shots after halftime, including four on goal, but was unable to find the back of the net.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn finished with a 9-8 advantage in shots and earned three corner kicks.
*The Quakers put four of their nine shots on frame, with Dartmouth goalkeeper Ola Goebel making four saves.
*Casey Forman led Penn with two shots, including one on goal.
*Abbey Cook also recorded two shots, while Avery Chapel added two attempts.
*Megan Graves made two saves in goal for the Quakers.
How It Happened
Dartmouth struck early, taking a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the match. Penn cleared a ball into Dartmouth territory, but the Big Green quickly sent it back into the Quakers' end. The ball deflected off a Penn defender and fell to Emmanuella Frimpomaa, who slipped a through ball behind Penn's back line to Madison Rose. Rose ran onto it in stride and finished past Graves.
The Big Green doubled their lead in the 21st minute, after capitalizing on a Penn turnover near the penalty area. After the visitors cleared the initial corner, Dartmouth worked the ball back out wide before sending it into the box. Lykke Ihrfelt then headed the ball toward the far post where Maeve Theobald finished a one-touch shot from close range.
Mia Fuss created an opportunity with under 19 minutes remaining in the half, crossing the ball into the box for Magali Capdevila, who collected it near the six before the hosts took it away. Penn later earned a deep throw-in with under nine minutes to play, but the Quakers could not turn it into a scoring chance.
The Red and Blue created a pair of chances late in the half as Kylie Emanuel and Chapel each sent attempts wide, and Penn entered the break trailing 2-0.
Penn came out aggressively after halftime, immediately pushing the ball into Dartmouth's end. With under 37 minutes remaining, a ground ball into the box found Chapel, whose attempt was blocked. Minutes later, Fuss fed Camarin Choi, who worked her way into the box and put Penn's first shot on goal toward Goebel, who made a comfortable save.
Dartmouth struck again in the 60th minute. Theobald got behind Penn's defense after starting her run near midfield, with Rose playing a ball into her path. Theobald shook off a defender and finished from just beyond the six for her second goal of the afternoon.
The Quakers continued to press and Cook forced a turnover in Dartmouth territory. Her left-footed attempt soared high from just outside the box. Choi then had a shot blocked from outside the box with under 27 minutes remaining, setting up a Penn corner.
Lily White delivered the ball into the box, where a Dartmouth defender headed it away. Penn kept the play alive and sent the ball back toward goal, with Cook getting her head to it from the six-yard box. Goebel made a diving save to keep the Quakers off the board.
The Big Green added its fourth goal in the 68th minute when Anna Leschly headed home a corner kick.
Dartmouth continued to apply pressure, but Graves made a sprawling save with under 23 minutes remaining following a corner that ricocheted through traffic and redirected toward goal.
Less than five minutes later, Penn earned a free kick just outside the penalty area after Dartmouth was shown a yellow card. White struck the ball cleanly toward goal, but Goebel made a low save.
Penn created another promising opportunity with 19 minutes to go when Fuss served a ball into the box for Capdevila, who collected the ball near the six-yard box before being dispossessed. The Quakers later earned a deep throw-in with under nine minutes to play, but could not turn the opportunity into a scoring chance.
Penn finished with seven second-half shots and nine for the match, but Dartmouth held on to secure its fifth consecutive shutout.
Up Next
The Red and Blue return home next Saturday at 7 p.m. to host Brown in their first Ivy League contest at Rhodes Field this season.
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