Alexa Hoover, an attack out of Collegeville, Pa., is enjoying one of the best breakout seasons in recent memory for Penn field hockey. She leads the Quakers with six goals through five games and has been named Ivy League Rookie of the Week two of the first three weeks of the season.

Despite an impressive showing on defense from Penn as well as a vigorous pace of play from the very outset of the match, Cornell tragically bested the visiting Quakers 1-0.

Penn field hockey’s season has started off with some exciting play, but it promises to bring even more excitement as the team looks towards its first Ivy League game of the season.

The freshman was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week on Tuesday, the second consecutive time that she has earned the honor.

Since moving to Vagelos Field last year, field hockey has been one of Penn’s most exciting sports. 

The Red and Blue (2-2) began the weekend with a strong 4-2 win against Fairfield, but gave up two late goals in a losing effort against Liberty.

Senior Emily Corcoran and freshman Alexa Hoover scored two goals apiece on attack while senior goalkeeper Allison Weisenfels made three saves to preserve the victory.

After a solid opening weekend at Vagelos Field, Penn field hockey will look to use two more nonconference games to shape into form ahead of Ivy play.

On Friday, the Red and Blue overwhelmed Lehigh with six second half goals in a 9-1 triumph, before falling to Bucknell on Sunday in a defensive slugfest, 1-0.

The follow-up to a thrilling campaign that fell just short of an Ivy League title begins Friday for Penn Field Hockey, who will face Lehigh (0-2) at Ellen Vagelos field.

Two weeks away from their season opener, as the Red and Blue welcome six freshmen to the roster, the Quakers will be forced to deal with the loss of significant depth from last year’s team.

When Christina Benvenuti committed to Penn as a senior in high school, she could have never predicted how her next four years would unfold.

In a nutshell, this season we found an amazing new home at Ellen Vagelos C’90 Field , broke a school scoring record and had four incredible seniors who started their careers 3-14 and finished it 13-4.

With women’s and men’s soccer, field hockey and football trying to hang onto their postseason hopes and men’s hoops tipping off for the first time all season, our staff followed every high and low point of Homecoming weekend, minute-by-minute.

In a season where Penn field hockey made a significant leap forward, it could not take the final step.

Saturday at noon, Penn (13-3, 5-1 Ivy) takes on No. 9 Princeton in the de facto Ivy League Championship game in which the winner takes the crown.

The win over Brown keeps the Quakers (13-3, 5-1 Ivy) just a game behind first place in the Ancient Eight, setting up a winner-take-all matchup with first-place Princeton next weekend.