The seasons are changing, and with that comes a changing of the guard for Penn women’s soccer.
Neither the Quakers nor the Bulldogs were able to find a goal as they tied 0-0 in the last game of the season, a defensive stalemate with few shots attempted.
Both teams came into Saturday evening knowing that the outcome would have no impact on their position in the Ivy League standings. Penn (5-4-6, 1-3-3 Ivy) was coming off a high following last week’s win at Harvard. Their last test of the season would be against Yale (3-11-1, 1-5-1 Ivy), a team that is very comfortable on the ball.
Before kickoff, Penn honored the graduating seniors on the team, who were accompanied by their families as they walked out to the field.
“It’s this emotional night for our team, because we’re sending off our six seniors who are fabulous young women and have brought so much to the program,” coach Krissy Turner said.
The game got off to a slow start as the teams took their time to settle into the game. As it started to pick up some speed, both squads made their first efforts to get in front of goal, which included a great cross to junior forward Abbey Cook that just drifted wide of the goal.
After the first attempts at creating chances, the game continued similarly to how it had started. Yale spent a lot of time in possession, and whenever the Quakers managed to win the ball back, an attempt at a quick buildup ended at the feet of the next Bulldogs defender. The goalkeepers had little to do in the first 45 minutes, but neither did the forwards; there were three total shots made in the half.
After the break, Penn came out as a different team, hungrier for the ball and searching for a goal. Still, it was senior goalkeeper Annabel Austen who had to make two quick saves at the beginning of the half.
RELATED:
Strong first half from Penn women's soccer not enough to hold off Cornell
Penn women's soccer sophomore forward Lily White doesn't take any moment for granted
But most of the remaining game was spent in Yale’s own half, as the Quakers managed to make more shots.
As the game drew to a close, Penn’s offense became more hectic as junior forward Magali Capdevila drilled a long, flat shot through many defenders but fell short of goal. As the game drew to a close, there were 15 combined shots made in the game, only four of which were on goal.
“We knew that Yale was a team that was going to overpossess the ball, so I think when we won [the ball] in the first half, we … gave it back to them too quickly,” coach Krissy Turner said. “I thought in the second half we were better at that, but unfortunately we just couldn’t create enough dangerous opportunities on goal."
The season closer was also the chance to send off the graduating seniors on the team, whose friends and family could be heard cheering for them throughout the game. It was the last game for senior defender Rachel Herman, forward Clare Robke, forward Anuli Okafor, midfielder Sarah Sullivan, and goalkeeper Annabel Austen, who have spent the last four years giving their all to the program.
“I think I’m definitely going to miss everybody here, but I also think what I’m going to bring with [me] are the relationships as well,” Herman said. “I’m going to keep those going.”
The seniors also highlighted the resilience they have learned from their time at Penn.
“You’re going to doubt yourself, and things are going to be hard, but there’s absolutely no reason that you can’t get through anything,” Robke said.
Austen will be especially missed after spending the last two years in a starting role for the Red and Blue. Just last week, she won her fifth career Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week. She led the Ivy League with 78 saves this season and leaves big shoes to fill.
The result in the season closer means that the Quakers finish the season in sixth place in the Ivy League standings, the same conference record as last year. Overall, though, the team has come a long way from last season. They started out strong throughout non-conference play, which led to five total wins and an improved overall record.
“I think there’s been some good progress,” coach Turner said. “I think there’s still a lot of work to do … technically, just being better on the ball and taking care of it a little bit better.”
The Quakers have a long offseason in front of them, and if the upwards trend from this season continues, there is a lot to look forward to next fall.
