After losing five games this season by only one goal, the Penn men's lacrosse team proved it could finally win a one-goal game with a 9-8 victory over Loyola (Md.) on Saturday.
But the close score wasn't why the win was special. What made it special was that it was only Penn's second victory of the season.
Junior Patrick Rogers' game-winning goal with 50 seconds remaining against the Greyhounds snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Quakers (2-10, 1-6 Ivy). It was the longest such streak under third-year coach Brian Voelker.
The month-and-a-half long skid had threatened to spiral out of control, as the Quakers were presented with the harsh reality that they might lose their final two games.
"We want a win really badly," Penn senior goalie Denis Cole said before Saturday's game. "It would do a lot for our team to finish the season out strong."
The Quakers' only other victory this year was on March 10, a 6-3 win over Air Force in Denver.
But hardly anyone remembers that victory. After all, it was a road game, and it was over spring break.
But parents and fans of the Red and Blue who braved the stormy weather at Franklin Field were on hand to support Saturday's victory.
And they will remember a more confident Penn squad doing something they hadn't done all season: building an early lead.
After the Greyhounds (4-7) scored the first goal, the Quakers scored three straight in a two-minute span.
The Quakers finished with five first-period goals, their most all season.
But with the game tied at seven, the Quakers did not have to make a desperate comeback in the final period, a situation that plagued them throughout the season.
With 1:30 remaining, Voelker called a timeout to try to set up the game-winning possession. And a familiar scene began to develop -- Penn had come close in its last few losses but previously had been unable to find the back of the net in the final minutes.
This time though, Rodgers ensured that the Quakers would get over the hump, as his unassisted goal gave Penn the lead for good.
