F. Hockey loses in overtime

The perceived characteristics of a freshman in college athletics form a long, unflattering list -- timid, unsure, a bystander, et cetera.

Penn field hockey's Liz Lorelli broke those stereotypes last night.

If there were any doubts about the young forward before the Quakers' game against Lafayette on Franklin Field last night, the freshman phenom quickly quelled those visions by breaking from the mold.

With just seven seconds left in regulation and the Leopards up, 2-1, Lorelli scored the tying goal and sent the game into overtime.

"It was surreal," Lorelli said of the goal that tied it up, 2-2.

The Quakers, however, were not able to take advantage of the extra time, eventually falling 3-2.

But in just her fifth collegiate game, Lorelli had quickly emerged onto the field hockey scene at Penn.

"Liz has lots of talent," Penn coach Val Cloud said. "She goes out there and plays, and doesn't think about being a freshman."

After having trailed for the entire game, Lorelli's goal gave the Quakers new hope going into the extra period and a much-needed reassurance about their offense. Penn had controlled field position in the second half, but had been relatively unsuccessful on the scoring front.

Penn carried the momentum of the tying goal into the overtime period, but Lafayette midfielder Megan Monohan proved to be too much in the late stages of the game.

In overtime, Monohan picked up where she had left off in regulation -- when she scored a dazzling, full-field breakaway goal -- by sparking the winning drive in overtime.

With 7:50 left on the overtime clock, Monohan fed forward Meredith Hahn for the sudden-death goal, giving Lafayette a 3-2 victory.

"Megan has lots of speed and flash," Lafayette coach Ann Gold said. "She flourishes on astroturf and is definitely someone to contend with."

Monohan displayed her speed throughout the game, but particularly mystified the Quakers late in the first half by streaking through a majority of the Penn defense on her way to the Leopards' second goal of the game.

"Her breakaway goal was gorgeous," Gold said.

Even when Monohan didn't have the ball, her influence on the field forced Penn's defense to concentrate heavily on her.

However, if it had not been for several diving saves by Penn goalie Carrie Wilhelm, the game might not have been a question for Lafayette.

Wilhelm made 16 saves for the Quakers.

"Carrie is always dependable," Lorelli said. "She played great, even though the score might not necessarily show it."

Despite Wilhelm's efforts in goal, the defense's inability to properly check probably cost the Quakers the game.

"The defense could have been more consistent in tackles and passing," Cloud said. "In my opinion we gave them the game. We have to make them work."

Lafayette's first goal came as a result of a rebound off of Wilhelm's pad.

Lafayette midfielder Jennifer Stone passed the ball to forward Beth Gulotta, who found the back of the net to put the Leopards in a lead with 27:15 remaining in the half.

Lafayette would never relinquish that lead.

Like Lorelli's equalizing goal to send the game into overtime, Penn's first goal came from forward Anna Mitchell's stick right before the first half horn sounded.

Overtime is a precarious time in the game when absolutely anything can happen.

Whether you dread the extra period or anticipate the pressure, the sudden death atmosphere will always produce a clash of titans.

The Leopards and Quakers knew only one thing going into the extra period -- only one team would survive.

Yesterday, that team was Lafayette.

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