As the sun went down on Princeton, N.J., so it did on the collegiate soccer careers of Tracy Bienenfeld and Megan Boys. The Penn defenders laced their cleats for the last time on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to Princeton.
Freshman goalie Sara Rose yielded a pair of unassisted goals to Princeton's Lauren Thomas in the game's only scores. While Thomas provided insurance with a free-kick goal in the 59th minute, her bullet past Rose at the end of the first half was all the Tigers (8-7-1, 3-4-0 Ivy) would need. Princeton goalie Maren Dale saved all five shots on goal for the shutout.
With the loss, Penn completed the 2006 season with an 8-5-3 overall record, but was just 1-4-2 in Ivy League play.
But the Quakers' disappointing marks were more a product of inexperience than quality of play.
Penn entered 2006 having lost five seniors, including top scorer Carolyn Cross (seven goals in 2005) and All-Ivy honorable mention goalkeeper Jessica Keeley.
With just four upperclassmen remaining, coach Darren Ambrose and the Quakers welcomed 10 freshmen to the team this fall. And if their production in 2006 is indicative of things to come, Penn women's soccer will be a formidable team for years to come.
After a slow start, Jessica Fuccello emerged as Penn's premier player this fall. The freshman forward was the only Penn player to accumulate double-digit points with 23 (nine goals, five assists), earning her a spot on the SoccerBuzz.com Elite Team.
Meanwhile, the Quakers will say goodbye to the seniors, Bienenfeld and Boys, both of whom were quiet in their career closer.
Bienenfeld doubled her goal total this fall, scoring twice, while Boys started all 16 games and contributed three assists.
