Penn beats the Owls

The Penn field hockey team played its most solid game of the season, defeating Temple 5-1. It finally happened. After eight games of trying to execute two complete halves but always falling short of the ultimate goal, Penn field hockey played a complete 70 minutes and soundly defeated Temple 5-1 last night on Franklin Field. Until last night, the Quakers (4-5) had yet to play a complete game of solid hockey. "Tonight was a great win because we played so well for two consecutive halves." Penn coach Val Cloud said. "I never saw my team pass and control the ball better in my life." The most significant change in the Quakers' style of play last night was communication. The constructive talking on both ends of the fields helped connect the overall team play throughout the entire 70 minutes. Penn executed every aspect of the game with finesse and confidence. They capitalized on both the offensive and defensive corners, controlled the ball with ease, stopped the ball with defiance and made perfect midfield passing connections. "We connected as a team. There was 100 percent effort for the full 70 minutes. Everyone played with intensity," junior Jen Murray said. After the first half of play, Penn left the Owls scoreless. Tri-captain Maureen Flynn scored the first of Penn's five goals, while Courtney Martin and Maria Karas each added one to secure Penn's 3-0 lead going into the second half. With only 8:12 left in the second half, Penn fired its first corner shot of the second half. It ricocheted off the post, was rebounded by Katie McCuen and was tipped into the cage by Bess Freedlander to put the Red and Blue ahead 4-0. At 6:30 remaining in the game, Penn attacked again as Aviva Meerschwam scored Penn's final goal of the game with an assist by Flynn. Although the game was not a shut-out -- the Owls scored their lone goal with a mere 2:56 remaining in the game -- Penn was satisfied with the result. Not only was last night a first for the team to play two great halves, but it was also the opening of the second half of the season. The Quakers, who got off to a rough beginning, can afford only one thing as they start the second part of their season -- wins. "If we play like we did [last night] for the rest of our games, we have a chance to come out with a winning season," Murray said. To make that prediction a reality, the Quakers must come out strong in the first few games of the second half. Last night's game and the next two match-ups, Columbia and Pacific, are games the Quakers can and should win. But the remainder of Penn's schedule will by no means guarantee any easy victories. "The next three games should give us the momentum we will need to face the end of our season, the toughest games we will face," Cloud said. "In [last night's] game we proved that we can play well no matter who our competition is." The Red and Blue's stellar competitors include Maryland, Brown, Penn State, Yale, West Chester and Princeton -- all nationally renowned field hockey powers. However, last night Penn gained the confidence it needs to compete on a higher level, the level they are about to embark on.