The Penn women's soccer team had three starters who were questionable going into Saturday's game against Yale, a team against which the Quakers were a lifetime 1-9.
And yet, none of that mattered, as the Quakers put together perhaps their best performance of the season in defeating Yale, 2-1, on Rhodes Field.
After a scoreless first half, the Quakers got on the board first when junior Jen Valentine sent a corner kick to freshman Amy Salomon, who redirected the ball into the net at the 26:44 mark of the second half. It was Salomon's first collegiate goal.
"I was trying to aim for [sophomore teammate Heather] Issing's head, like I always do," Valentine said. "So I was a little off, but it worked out."
When the Elis began attacking ferociously after Salomon's goal, Penn goalkeeper Vanessa Scotto forced a breakaway shot wide right to protect the lead.
Yale then turned it over late in the game, and Penn sophomore Ayla Gustafson capitalized on the turnover, going unassisted with 5:49 remaining.
Yale (4-6-1, 0-3-1 Ivy League) ended the Quakers' shutout bid with 1:46 left in the contest, when Elis substitute Sara Ruiz scored on Yale's only corner kick of the game.
"Yale really pushed hard the whole game, even when they got down 2-0," Issing said. "They didn't stop until the final whistle."
The Quakers (10-1-1, 3-1) have now equaled their overall win total of last season and have guaranteed themselves a better record in the Ivies than last year's 2-5 mark.
"We really came out there today and played fantastic," Penn coach Darren Ambrose said. "I think today we showed the rest of the league we're for real."
A scary moment for the Quakers came when leading-scorer Rachelle Snyder went down with a knee injury late in the first half. Initial reports on Snyder are positive, however, and she is expected to return for Wednesday's contest at Monmouth.
Valentine, who had been battling a viral infection before the game, also strained her quad slightly, and is questionable for the next game.
One major bright spot for the Red and Blue was the return of senior tri-captain Sarah Campbell. Campbell, who has been sidelined this year with an injury to her Achilles, started and played more than half of the contest, improving an already solid defense.
"We didn't know until right before gametime that Sarah would be able to play," Ambrose said.
"We really needed her today, and she had a fantastic game. It's great to have her back."
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