It was a game decided as much on what didn't happen as what did.
Had Penn forward Carolyn Cross been able to beat Seton Hall goalkeeper Buffy Wojciehowski on a breakaway in the 79th minute, it would have been 2-0 Penn.
Had Pirates' midfielder Beth Troutman's 88th-minute cross, which caught Penn goalkeeper Anna Halse off her line, not swerved just past the far post, it would have been 1-1 and the game would have likely headed to overtime.
Neither of these happened. Therefore, Penn junior forward Rachelle Snyder's fourth-minute goal stood as the only one of the game as the Quakers downed Seton Hall 1-0 yesterday at Rhodes Field.
The goal was the result of an excellent play from the midfield for the Red and Blue. Sophomore midfielder Jenna Linden sent a low, curving ball from the center of the field to Snyder, who was unmarked on the left wing. Snyder then cut inside, beat two Seton Hall defenders and fired a shot which Wojciehowski could only get a piece of on its way into the net.
It was a moment of personal relief for the San Diego native, who had not scored since Oct. 19, 2002, against Columbia University.
"I was just trying to get that monkey off my back from last year," she said. "It was a good ball through, and we were kind of excited."
Yesterday's game saw marked improvements in Penn's ball-winning and possession. The Quakers were able to string multiple passes together several times throughout the game. This high level of execution, however, did not lead to as many goals as the team felt it should have.
"We possessed it very well, especially through the back and midfield," sophomore defender Robin Watson said. "I think it's just getting balls to forwards that they can use to actually get into the goal area... is where we're having trouble."
"When we settled down and we played, we did keep the ball well," coach Darren Ambrose said. "And we kept it under pressure."
Ambrose also praised his team's spirit on the field.
"I'd rather see us there right now... fighting and competing and battling hard," he said. "Once we learn that's what it has to be every game -- that's what we're trying to achieve."
Watson echoed those sentiments.
"It wasn't the prettiest soccer we've seen," Watson said. "But I think this team fought pretty hard. Everyone won her own individual battles out there."
There was a fair amount of controversy in the second half, as Ambrose substituted senior goalkeeper Vanessa Scotto in favor of Halse.
"We have two good goalkeepers -- we have confidence in both of them," Ambrose said. "The team is so competitive right now that they're pushing each other, and everyone has to play well every game to get a spot."
There were also a considerable number of fouls as the clock wound down, including a questionable yellow card to Snyder.
Ambrose would not comment on the game's officiating.
"In the Big East, that's how it is all the time," Kempf said. "That's the kind of soccer that's played."
Otherwise, the last 15 minutes of the game were fairly typical of a 1-0 game. Seton Hall brought its midfielders forward to press for an equalizer. This opened up gaps in the defense for the Quakers to exploit, and had Cross scored on the breakaway, it would have almost surely put the game out of reach.
"That's what happens when it gets to be that point in a game," Seton Hall coach Betty Ann Kempf said. "Just try and push everybody up and see if we can get something going."
But Penn was able to hold on for the victory. Halse recovered after Troutman's late miss to clear the ball on several occasions, and the Pirates finally ran out of time.
