It was just a matter of time before one of their shots found the back of the net.
Behind two late goals by freshman forward Jessica Fuccello, the women's soccer team overcame a two-goal deficit to tie Brown, 2-2, after 110 minutes of play yesterday at Rhodes Field.
The fans may have seen the game as an emotional victory, but coach Darren Ambrose had a slightly more critical opinion.
"The kids are happy that they pulled themselves out of a hole that we really put ourselves into," he said. "Still, it's disappointing that we didn't win, because we were good enough."
The Quakers (8-4-3, 1-3-2 Ivy) were the dominant team throughout the match, outshooting their opponents 18-12, but were unable to find the net until Fuccello got loose on a breakaway, received a pass from senior defender Tracy Bienenfeld and pushed it past Brown goalkeeper Brenna Hogue in the 80th minute.
"We just pushed everyone forward and kept pressure on them," Fuccello said. "Luckily, a ball got through, and I just toe-poked it past the goalie."
The tally marked a momentum turn, culminating in Fuccello's second goal, which tied the score with just 1:36 remaining in regulation.
The Bears (9-3-4, 3-1-2) struck first, only 47 seconds after the opening whistle, when a miscommunication among the Quakers' defense allowed Brown forward Lindsay Cunningham to push the ball past goalkeeper Sara Rose.
The Bears' other goal was a rare spark from their attack, when midfielder Jill Mansfield sped down the field on a breakaway and chipped the ball over charging goalkeeper Cailly Carroll's head.
The Quakers, however, never gave up and continued to pressure Brown's defense constantly, taking seven corner kicks over the course of the game.
"Even though we didn't win, we still showed a lot of heart that we came back from 2-0," Fuccello said.
Penn outplayed its opposition for the remainder of the game, forcing Hogue to make eight saves and missing the net on a number of wide-open chances. Freshman forward Mara Fintzi clanged a ball against the crossbar in the 32nd minute.
"If we were not creating chances, I'd be a very worried man - but we are," Ambrose said.
Penn continued to get chances in overtime, including a one-on-one chance for Fuccello, but Hogue was able to kick it away. Brown's best chance in overtime was thwarted when Carroll slid in to take the ball away from Mansfield.
Although Penn has been eliminated from Ivy League title contention, the tie knocked Brown out of the race.
"They're going to go home, upset that they blew a two-goal lead," Fuccello said.
The team finishes up its season this week, possibly making up a rainout against Rider on Wednesday, and traveling to Princeton on Saturday.
