The Lock Haven Lady Eagles came into Sunday soaring on a nine-game winning streak, but left Franklin Field with clipped wings.
Their vaunted offense was held to just one goal on four attempts as the Penn field hockey team downed the Eagles, 2-1. Before their game against Penn (4-7, 1-2 Ivy), they had outscored their last nine opponents by a ludicrous 45-5 margin.
Lock Haven (9-4, 3-0 Northeast) has been duking it out with Sacred Heart for the NEC title, which it captured last year..
Penn was coming off a disappointing 2-1 road loss to Dartmouth on Sept. 30. However, senior Melina Tsui insisted that the Quakers "came in with a positive attitude," giving them the psychological lift needed to snap Lock Haven's winning streak.
The rest of the team seemed equally unfazed by the Lady Eagles' resume. Goalie Elizabeth Schlossberg was "wowed" by Lock Haven's 7-0 victory against Robert Morris last week, but the squad was "focused on what we do well, and [to] not be concerned with the other team."
The Quakers controlled much of the first half, as Lock Haven managed a single shot, one that was routinely kicked away by Schlossberg. Penn got the ball into the offensive third of the field early and often, but its first few attempts were stymied by a crowd of defenders in front.
Penn's perseverance and pressure paid off, though. Following a missed penalty corner, midfielder Kathryn Rose dumped the ball in front of the Lock Haven goal, and Tracy Slatter tipped it to fellow frontliner Kara Bolger, who knocked it past goalie Becca Yerkes to put the Quakers on top, 1-0.
But the score did not remain that way for long. The Lady Eagles came out firing to open the second half, winning balls and making strong forward runs. After a scramble in front of the Penn goal, forward Samantha Stoyer slipped the ball past Schlossberg to knot it at 1.
"It was a little deflating," Schlossberg said of letting in an early second-half goal. "But we knew right away that we had to get back on our feet - and we did, instantly."
Minutes later, the Quakers responded. A beautiful pass by Melissa Black across the front of the Lock Haven net set up Penn's leading scorer, Meghan Rose, to slap it in, making the line 2-1.
With 10 minutes left in the game, Schlossberg was caught out of position as Lock Haven had its best chance to tie the game. The net was empty as Schlossberg lay sprawled trying to get the bouncing ball. It would have found the net, if not for Tsui, who made a game-saving play by diving in front to clear the ball off the line.
But in the end, Penn's victory couldn't really be credited to any one player.
"The forwards and midfield did a great job of tackling back to help the defense," Tsui said. "It was a good team effort."
