The Penn field hockey team went to Brown looking to salvage a season that already holds no hope of postseason action.
Instead, the Quakers were unable to overcome an early deficit and a staunch Brown defense, dropping a 1-0 decision that summed up the team's year-long frustrations.
The lone scoring for either squad came on the Bears' first shot of the game, as Brown senior co-captain Kristen Vincent took a short corner from teammate Samantha Lloyd and put the Bears (7-8, 4-2 Ivy) up by one. The goal came less than 10 minutes into play.
Penn (8-7, 3-3) largely controlled the remainder of the game but could not break through to equalize.
The loss was especially difficult for the team's five seniors.
"It wasn't that they did anything spectacular to beat us," senior midfielder Lea Salese said.
"We dominated the entire second half, we just couldn't finish. We had a shot at it."
The Quakers held Brown at bay throughout the second half, taking six shots to Brown's three. However, Brown goalkeeper Kristen Hodavance made four saves in the last 35 minutes to preserve the Bears' Senior Day victory.
Brown also got a break on defense when a Penn shot ricocheted off the goalpost with 26 minutes left.
"It was a really tough loss," Salese said.
Penn, though, still has a chance to finish the season with a winning conference record if it can manage to knock off Princeton, who has already clinched this season's Ivy League championship.
The Quakers are 6-1 at Franklin Field so far this year. The Tigers, fresh off a 5-0 rout of Rutgers, are looking to enter the NCAA tournament undefeated in conference play.
Salese was optimistic that Penn would be able to end the year in style, handing Princeton its first Ivy League loss.
"We know we can beat them," she said simply.
PENN 0 0 -- 0Brown 1 0 -- 1
Scoring: 1st Half: 1, Brown, Vincent 4 (Lloyd) 9:23.
2nd Half: None
