W. Soccer shuts out Drexel for fourth win

The Penn women's soccer team opened its season with its best-ever record under coach Patrick Baker after four games by remaining undefeated after a 4-0 victory yesterday against the Drexel Dragons. The team also continued its streak of refusing to give up a goal, thanks in large part to a ball-control style of play that made the afternoon relatively easy for goalkeepers Annie Kluetmeier and Lauren Dickie. The Quakers' goals were scored by three different players, including senior co-captain Kelly Stevens who is on pace to set a new season scoring record for most goals. The current record is nine goals, and Stevens already has five goals with only four games played. Drexel scrapped its normal 4-3-3 alignment for a more defensive configuration in hopes of bottling up the Penn attack. Drexel dropped back two of their better players, Laura Meikle and Christine Kasprzak. "Our performance wasn't too bad considering it was the first time ever the (other) team has put numerous players behind the ball," Baker said. "We didn't handle it very well when normal front-runners [Meikle] and [Kasprzak] dropped into marking-back positions, but we weathered the storm and got the victory." Penn posted its first score in the 31st minute when sophomore Kellianne Toland scored on a pass from senior co-captain and midfielder Tina Cooper. The goal was Toland's second of the season. Only eight minutes later, freshman midfielder Sabrina Fenton knocked in another on an assist from Toland. "Sabrina Fenton provided a good lift in the first half," Baker said. "She got her first goal as a freshman and gave us a little bit of a spark." Although the Quakers seemed well in control at halftime, Baker urged his team to continue to press the attack. "Coach said we were playing well, but we needed to keep better possession of the ball and stop making some of the mental mistakes," said junior goalkeeper Lauren Dickie, who relieved starter Kluetmeier in the second half. In contrast to Penn's 26 shots on goal, Drexel managed only one shot on goal and neither Quaker netminder was forced to make a save. "We had a lot of open space in back, so when we got stuck in the front we were able to pass the ball back and look for space on the attack," Dickie said. "They (Drexel) weren't able to get any chances and it made my job pretty easy." Only four minutes after the start of the second half, Quaker midfielder Aidan Viggiano's knee collided with Drexel goalkeeper Joy Banares' head as Banares was attempting to make a save in the goalie's box. After leaving the field under trainer supervision, she was replaced by freshman Kristi Walsh. Walsh was tested immediately, particularly by an open-field breakout by Stevens in the 66th minute. The replacement keeper settled into the flow of the game with several tough saves. Repeated Red and Blue pressure led to Stevens' first goal with less than 16 minutes to play when she beat Walsh to the near-post on an assist from senior defender Jacky Flood. The Flood-to-Stevens pair teamed up again on the final score of the game when Stevens drove the left side of the field in the 81st minute. Overall, Baker was able to use 19 players throughout the course of the game. For the season, the team has now received scoring contributions from 11 different players. The depth of the bench and the variety of attack should serve useful when team moves into the middle of their schedule against nationally ranked opponents.