Sept. 10, 2016 Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Lafayette women's soccer team fell into a two-goal hole that it couldn't dig out of on Friday evening in Philadelphia, dropping a 2-1 decision to Penn, the team's first loss of the 2016 campaign.
The Leopards' unbeaten streak snaps at five games, the best start in program history. Lafayette falls to 3-1-2 on the season, while Penn improves to 2-1.
"I was really pleased with our response after halftime," head coach Mick Statham said. "Penn was technically quick and it took us time to adjust, but our spirit and quality in the second half was great. It was a very good game for us to learn more about our character against a well-put-together program. We were not beaten. We just ran out of time."
Much of the first half was controlled by the Quakers, who gave up just three shots on goal in the entire 90 minutes. The first chance came in the 19th minute as Penn's Emma Loving put a move on a defender and found space up the middle of the field, only to have her shot skid just outside the far post.
That chance, however, set the momentum on the Penn sideline, leading to the team's first goal just three minutes later. Working down the right side, Emily Sands sent a cross into the center of the box for Olivia Blaber. Blaber found space in between a pair of Leopard defenders and won a header clean, sending the ball past Lafayette goalkeeper Danielle Sedillo and into the right corner for the opening marker.
Sedillo made a nice point-blank save off another corner about seven minutes later, but the Quakers struck again in the 32nd minute. Sasha Stephens' cross from the left side found the foot of Riann Winget, who slipped a one-time finish off the right post and past Sedillo for an early 2-0 edge.
As the game moved through the break, Lafayette's defense began to settle in and the offense started to click, leading to more possession in the Penn defensive third. That run of play led to Lafayette's lone goal in the 64th minute.
Winning a corner to the left of goal, senior Elizabeth Scoda sent a far service across the goal mouth where classmate Kaelin King was there to win it on the opposite side of the box. King played a one-time ball back toward the middle of goal where sophomore Alex Stanford played a volley into the open net to cut the lead to 2-1.
Unfortunately, Lafayette couldn't use that spark to find another scoring opportunity as Penn bled the clock late and walked away with the 2-1 win. Shots were 16-5 in favor of the home side and Penn took nine corners compared to Lafayette's four.
Lafayette will look to get back on track on Sunday in its final non-conference tune-up before the Patriot League slate. The Leopards will host Brown at Oaks Stadium with opening kick set for 1 p.m.
