The Penn field hockey team traveled to Syracuse, N.Y., on Sunday, Sept. 23, to face the No. 12 Orange and nearly left with an upset victory for the second year in a row. Last year, the Quakers defeated then No. 10-ranked Syracuse 3-2 at Ellen Vagelos Field.
Freshman attacker Julia Russo scored the first goal of Sunday’s game in the 24th minute to give Penn a 1-0 lead. The Orange did not score a goal in the first half and the Red & Blue entered halftime up by 1.
Syracuse came out firing in the second half, with three shots in the first two minutes, but none made it into the net. The Orange tied the game in the 46th minute on a goal by Chiara Gutsche.
At the end of regulation, the game was tied 1-1.
Neither team scored in the first or second overtime periods, so the game went to a penalty shootout. Syracuse prevailed 2-1.
Russo had 5 shots, 3 shots on goal, and 1 goal. Junior back Alexa Schneck had 1 shot and 1 shot on goal. Junior goalkeeper Ava Rosati had 6 saves.
The Quakers (4-4) return to play at noon on Saturday, Sept. 29, against No. 20 Harvard at Ellen Vagelos Field.
