Quakers blow by Ursinus on Franklin Field's wet rug

Two Penn freshmen scoreTwo Penn freshmen scoretheir first collegiate goals The rain ended just in time for the Penn field hockey team to line up on the wet Franklin Field turf against Ursinus last night. Then, two Penn freshmen scored their first goals as collegians as the Quakers dominated the Bears, winning 5-1. "It was a better effort than [ Wednesday's game against Columbia]," Penn coach Val Cloud said. "The play was dispersed. Everyone was involved. We got goals not just from corners, we also got them from the field. A lot of people contributed goal-wise." Penn freshmen Maureen Flynn and Katie McCuen connected for their first goals ever as Quakers to help Penn (4-3) to a three-game winning streak and a winning record for the first time since opening day. "I was pretty excited," Flynn said. "I play center-forward so I've tried to work on scoring. I think the first one's the hardest to get, so I'm relieved." "I was so excited," McCuen said. "It was my first goal as a college player, so I was pretty psyched." "The underclassmen have really been picking it up," Penn co-captain Michele Canuso-Bedesem said after adding two goals of her own in the blowout. "We've really gelled a lot more as a team in the last three games. It was my first multiple-goal game. It's exciting to be able step up and help the team that way. I have a strong hit, so it's beneficial for me to step up on corners." Canuso-Bedesem now leads the team in goals scored with six on the season. Quakers junior Tara Childs scored the third goal of the game with eight minutes remaining in the first half to bring her season total to four. The Quakers had the advantage playing at home on a turf field that was also wet from the rain -- two elements the Bears were not prepared for. "They're a grass team, and we're a turf team," Penn senior co-captain Curran Kelly said. "When a grass team comes onto turf, they're usually not as fast. Last year, we went into overtime with them. We dominated most of the game, but we couldn't get the ball in the cage because it was a grass game." "[The wet turf] helped because it helped the ball roll more smoothly, and it slowed it down just a little bit," Cloud said. "Wet turf is a good thing for us. Also, when you fall, you don't get hurt as badly." With a three-game winning streak and a winning record, the Quakers will be riding high into their Ivy League showdown with Harvard on Saturday.