The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: Penn field hockey at Rider

THE GOOD: Emily Corcoran’s continuing late-game heroics

The junior has now scored the overtime winner in two consecutive thrillers. Last Sunday, it was at home against Ivy foe Dartmouth to give them a 5-4 victory. Today, it was in New Jersey to give the Quakers a 4-3 edge over Rider. At home, away, conference, nonconference — Corcoran has shown that she can be clutch, wherever, whenever she’s needed.

THE BAD: The Quakers almost gave it away

After freshman phenom Jasmine Cole scored twice to give the Quakers a 3-1 lead in the second half, it seemed as if the game was the Quakers’ for the taking. But defensive miscues led to two consecutive Rider goals to mirror Cole’s, and it could have been a crushing loss just as easily as it ended up a thrilling win.

THE UGLY: The state of our hearts

This game marks the sixth this season decided by one goal. In fact, each of Penn’s last four wins has been by one point. While there’s not too much room to complain — Penn has won five out of those six games — a dominating win in the fashion of Penn’s 5-2 victory over St. Joe’s at the beginning of the season would be a welcome reprieve from the last few weeks of nerve-wracking contests.