Quakers split final two games

Heading into their game against Rutgers on Wednesday evening in New Brunswick, N.J., the last thing the Penn women's lacrosse team expected was a devastating loss. After all, the Quakers, whose record stood at 4-6 going into the contest with their Ivy League schedule completed, had little to lose in the contest, other than the possibility of finishing with a .500 record. The Scarlet Knights, however, had other plans. The teams were knotted at six when, with 46 seconds remaining in the game, Rutgers midfielder Brandi Bailey scored her second goal of the game. Down by one, Penn rushed up the field, but the ball was stolen by Rutgers. Amy Shapiro intercepted the ball for the Quakers with 10 seconds left and hurled it downfield towards Penn midfielders Emmy Hansel and Darah Ross. The pass was once again intercepted by Rutgers, but Ross knocked the ball loose, and it was recovered by Hansel. Seeing that the goal was open, Hansel heaved a shot from 30 yards out just before the buzzer went off. The shot went in, apparently tying the game. The official, however, disallowed the goal, claiming that, although the shot had been taken before the horn, it came after the official's whistle. Since the whistle overrides the horn, the game had ended with Rutgers winning, 7-6. "I had no idea how much time was left on the clock when I took the shot," Hansel said. "I don't know whether the shot should have counted, but I like to think that it should have. I know it was in the air before the horn sounded." Penn (5-7) played again yesterday, defeating Lafayette 11-8 in Easton, Pa. Had they defeated Rutgers (9-6), the Quakers could have finished with a .500 record. Despite the fact that Penn coach Anne Sage argued the questionable call after the game, Hansel herself had no ill feelings about the play or the Rutgers game in general. "It was exciting anyway, and, although we didn't play as well as we could have, it was really a good game," Hansel said. Yesterday's game was the final contest for the Quakers seniors, and the team bounced back from Wednesday's crushing defeat in fine form. Penn, which trailed 6-2 at halftime, scored the first five goals of the second half to take the lead. After two more Lafayette goals, the Quakers scored four more times to close out the game. Altogether, Penn outscored Lafayette 9-2 in the second half. Quakers senior midfielder Jessica Gilhorn closed out her collegiate career by scoring four goals. Shapiro led the team with two assists. "We had a strong second half," Hansel said. "We passed really nicely. It was a good one to end on for the seniors."