Everything seemed to be going perfectly for the Penn women's lacrosse team. It scored the first two goals against No. 12 Johns Hopkins and its defense seemed to be controlling the tempo of the game. Everything was going well except that the Quakers' leading scorer, sophomore attackman Emily Cochran, looked on from the bench sidelined with a season-ending knee injury.
As the leader of Penn's offensive attack, Cochran -- who had 21 goals, 4 assists in eight games -- was sorely missed last night. Although the Red and Blue were able to score first off of two fast breaks, no one was able to match Cochran's ability to run set plays, as the Quakers eventually fell to Johns Hopkins, 10-6.
"We played well when we were up," Penn coach Karin Brower said. "But as soon as the score was tied or we were behind, we rushed shots and didn't stick to our game plan. This season Emily has been the go-to girl on offense. Tonight we didn't have anyone step up and take control."
Although the Quakers struggled in their ability to create plays on offense, their defense and the play of junior goalkeeper Liz Lorelli kept them in contention.
"In the first half we stopped them cold," sophomore defender Lauren McDermott said. "We denied their cutters and forced them to take outside shots. When they did get in close, Liz was right there to make the save."
The first half ended with both teams tied at four after a 14-minute scoring drought, in which the Quakers and the Blue Jays engaged in a defensive battle of attrition. However, Hopkins came out with a flurry of goals to start the second half that the Quakers simply could not match.
Three of Hopkins' four unanswered goals after intermission were scored by freshman Mary Key (5 goals, 32 this season). The Quakers were finally able to stop their scoring drought when senior captain Lindsey Cassidy notched her only goal of the game with 11:02 left in the contest.
However, the Blue Jays answered back, with sophomore midfielder Kelley Putnam scoring 17 seconds later off the faceoff draw.
"We hurt ourselves tonight," Brower said. "This was a team we could have beaten. We didn't stick to our game plan and we broke down defensively in the second half."
Without Cochran, someone must step up for the Quakers. Cassidy, who led the Quakers in nearly every offensive category last season, is the most likely candidate to replace Cochran, but freshman Chrissy Muller, who ranks second behind Cochran in goals this season, is another player who could emerge.
"Replacing Emily is going to have to be a team effort," Brower said. "What she brought to the team this season was just unbelievable."
The Quakers resume their Ivy League schedule this weekend, taking on Columbia at Franklin Field Saturday before facing No. 19 Penn State at home on Wednesday.
