PRINCETON, N.J. -- When the clock ran out, signaling the end of the Penn field hockey team's match at Princeton Friday night, the teams were tied at one goal each.
The game was far from over.
In the minds of the Red and Blue, the outcome was still undetermined, and overtime was miles away.
Ten Quakers on the field took their places around the circle for a penalty corner called just before time had run out. The team was entitled to this last attempt, this one last play before overtime.
With no time left on the clock, Penn junior Cara Calahan found the back of the net, lifting the team to a 2-1 victory and clinching a share of the Ivy League title for the Quakers (13-4, 6-1 Ivy).
An otherwise enthusiastic sea of Orange and Black fans sat stunned.
The Quakers' victory over Princeton (7-10, 5-2) not only earned the team a Ivy League co-championship with Harvard, but also ended Princeton's 10-year run of Ivy title domination.
Harvard will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, since they beat Penn head-to-head earlier this season. The Quakers will learn if they receive an at-large bid tomorrow night.
"We haven't beaten Princeton in 10 years," Penn coach Val Cloud said. "This was the most spectacular win that I've been a part of in 25 years."
The Quakers last won the Ivy title in 1993, prior to 10 years of losses to Princeton.
"This was our number one goal," Calahan said. "From day one we wanted to be Ivy champs."
The win completed the team's 13-4 record, extending its final regular-season winning streak to eight games. Though the Quakers could not earn the shutout, the victory ended a winning season in which the Red and Blue held eight opponents scoreless.
But only a win and not a shutout was needed for either the Quakers or the Tigers to clinch the shared title.
The Quakers took the lead late in the first half when Calahan scored her first goal off an assist from junior Lea Salese.
Princeton responded early in the second half to tie the score. Led by junior goalie Liz Schlossberg, the Penn defense held strong, however, silencing the Tigers for the rest of the half despite allowing eight penalty corners.
"Our defense has been so solid," Cloud said. "Liz really had the opportunity to show her stuff tonight."
As the final moments of the game approached, Penn channeled all of its energy into an attack that earned a penalty corner, a final chance at a win in regulation.
"We really stuck it out and pulled through in the end," Salese said. "We didn't want to go into overtime."
"I was planning in my head who to play in overtime," Cloud said.
As Cloud thought ahead on the sidelines, the team refused to surrender to overtime play. Determination and the sense of urgency to score only increased.
"I just knew in the last five minutes that we were going to win," senior tri-captain Bernice Raveche said.
"The whole team came to the circle to get that shot on goal. Everyone executed their jobs," Salese said. With the entire squad pressing the Princeton goal, Calahan found the back of the net for the game's decisive goal.
"We have worked on corners day and night, and it finally paid off," Calahan said.
"To win the way we did after preparing this hard -- hands down we deserved to win," Schlossberg said.
Shocked and elated, the new Ivy League champions pointed to the team's heart and unity of the senior class as catalysts this season.
"Our seniors and captains have so much heart," Cloud said. "They would do anything to keep that ball out."
With the title, the graduating seniors have certainly created a lasting legacy. They are confident that the tide has turned for Penn field hockey in the Ivy League.
Princeton's "dynasty is over and ours is just beginning," Raveche said.
PENN 1 1 -- 2Princeton 0 1 -- 1
First Half -- Calahan (Penn) 30:01 (Salese)
Second Half -- Schmidt (Princeton) 40:20 (unassisted); Calahan (Penn) 70:00 (unassisted)
