Being on the winning side of things gives athletes an added desire to play better, especially if they have not been doing so well in a long while.
Just ask Penn's Cara Calahan.
The sophomore forward -- who started for injured senior Jackie Lange -- scored the game-winning goal with just 3:14 to play in regulation and added an assist in the Quakers' 2-1 comeback victory over Dartmouth Saturday at Franklin Field.
"We know we have the skill this year to win against every team we play," Calahan said. "The drive to win gets stronger."
The victory puts the Quakers' (5-4, 2-1 Ivy) record above .500 for the first time since 1998. It also was their third consecutive come-from-behind win.
"I think this game was huge, because it put us on the winning side in both the Ivy League and regular season," Penn coach Val Cloud said. "We haven't been on the winning side in a long time."
With just over three minutes remaining in a tied game, the Quakers were awarded a penalty corner.
Penn junior Sara Shelley handled the inbound pass and passed towards the goal. Calahan, who was playing close to the net, got her stick on the ball and shot it into the cage for the game winner.
"I was just thinking, less than five minutes left, we're not going into overtime, we want to win this thing in regulation," Calahan said. "I wanted to get a good insertion from the corner, and I was lucky my stick was there and it went in."
Penn freshman goalkeeper Elizabeth Schlossberg stood behind a defense that dominated much of the game, holding the Big Green to just one shot in the first half and three overall.
"I really give credit to my defense today," Cloud said. "They played exceptionally well."
Unfortunately for Penn, the lone Dartmouth shot in the first half resulted in a goal.
Freshman Audrey Knutson put an unassisted goal past Schlossberg just five minutes into the contest to give Dartmouth a 1-0 lead.
Penn's defense clamped down after that, giving up only three penalty corners and few real chances.
"We didn't want to give Dartmouth any more confidence after allowing them to score first," Cloud said. "We let them get the lead, but we took control of the game."
The Quakers failed to take advantage of eight shots and four penalty corners in the first half and went into halftime trailing.
Penn capitalized on another penalty corner to even the score late in the second half.
Calahan passed the ball inbounds to sophomore Kristen Gray, who stopped it and set up a shot for sophomore midfielder Lea Salese. Salese slammed it into the back of the cage to tie the game at one.
"When you keep knocking on the door and getting shots, something is going to go in," Cloud said. "I had confidence that we could come back."
Penn's defense managed to break up two Dartmouth penalty corners late in the second half, ending Dartmouth's offensive threats and setting up Calahan's game-winning goal.
"While we didn't score three goals this time, I think our offense really stepped up," Cloud said. "The better team won today."
And after five years, Penn can actually support that statement by pointing to its record.
