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Penn forward Heather Taylor, seen here against Iowa State, just missed a goal in Sunday's 0-0 tie to nationally ranked William and Mary. [Will Burhop/DP File Photo]

With less than a half to play in regulation, Heather Taylor looked to end a scoreless tie as she bore down on William and Mary goalie Courtney Owen.

The Penn junior was set on slipping the ball by the only obstacle that stood in the way of a chance at an improbable victory for the Penn women's soccer team --a squad that was facing the No. 19 team in the nation.

So Taylor fired a shot on goal, but the ball deflected back to the Quakers forward. And on the rebound put-back attempt, Taylor just missed sneaking it by Owen.

Penn had no other legitimate scoring chances the rest of the game, and the contest ended in a scoreless stalemate after 120 minutes of back-and-forth struggle.

But, as the junior forward was just inches away from securing an upset, the Red and Blue showed this weekend that, on the yardstick of soccer prowess, they are not far behind the nation's elite.

Penn's scoreless tie with the Tribe, marking the first time in three years that the William and Mary squad had been kept off the board, was an impressive finale to a successful Penn weekend that began with a 3-0 triumph over George Mason on Friday. The Quakers are now 3-0-1 on the season.

"We're extremely excited to have such a positive outcome," Penn junior tri-captain Jen Valentine said. "It was great being the underdogs because no one thought we could beat them. To shut out William and Mary is a testament to our success."

Before the fiercely contested battle against the host of the Nike/Tribe Classic on Sunday, the Quakers faced George Mason on Friday. It was Penn's first live-game action since Sept. 9.

In the first half against the Patriots, it was obvious that the 12-day layoff had taken its toll on Penn's impressive season-opening momentum. The Red and Blue managed only two shots and were called for nine penalties. Still, the Quakers were able to avoid a deficit. They went into the locker room at halftime with the game still scoreless.

Penn came out firing in the final 45 minutes, fueled by the recipe for success that has triggered their prosperity so far -- outstanding second-half defense and a freshmen scoring punch.

Freshman Katy Cross netted her third game-winning goal of the season and had two assists, while freshman midfielder Devon Sibole also tallied a score. The Quakers' defensive front and goalkeeper Vanessa Scotto, meanwhile, held down the fort against the Patriots' offensive attack.

The defensive fortress of junior Jen Valentine, sophomore Heather Issing, and freshmen Jessica Woodward and Rachel Weber and Scotto was more miserly than ever in the showdown against the prolific Tribe, though.

William and Mary had already put 20 goals past the opposition this season en route to a 6-0 record. But Penn's stalwart defense allowed only 12 shots in 120 minutes and forced Scotto to make just five saves in the 0-0 tie.

"It was a solid weekend for us," said Valentine, a central defender. "William and Mary has awesome offensive power and we knew we had to be organized. I was extremely pleased with our effort."

The key for the Quakers to sticking with one of the nation's powerhouses this Sunday was playing hard from whistle to whistle.

"When we put two halves together, we can compete with anybody," Penn coach Darren Ambrose said. "We're a very, very good team when we perform the way we're capable of."

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