PHILADELPIHIA--The No. 3 Penn women's lacrosse team smothered No. 7 Princeton, 10-5, to remain undefeated on the season and clinch a share of the Quakers' third consecutive Ivy League title. Freshman phenom Erin Brennan scored three goals and added two assists to vault the Red and Blue to victory.

The victory puts a lot of momentum in Quakers' corner with at least a piece of the Ivy League title heading their way, as well as securing the league's automatic bid to the NCAA, making Penn the first team to lock up a spot in the 2009 NCAA tournament.

Wednesday night, the Quakers dictated the tempo from early on. The freshman fed junior Ali DeLuca two minutes into the game to put Penn on the board. Then Brennan and Lubbe hooked up for back-to-back goals to go ahead 3-0 with 23 minutes to play.

Princeton's Holly McGarvie notched her only goal of the night on a free position at 15:11. Junior midfielder Emma Spiro marked McGarvie and allowed the junior just two more shots the rest of the night.

Seniors Becca Edwards and Samantha Bird scored in the final 10 minutes of the half to extend Penn's lead, but another free position shot from Princeton made the score 5-2 heading into the half.

After the break, Edwards converted on an eight meter and Brennan completed her hat trick in the first 13 minutes. Spiro and Kaitlyn Lombardo tacked on a couple more to give Penn a seven-goal advantage--its largest of the night--and just under five minutes to play.

Not ready to go without a fight, Princeton forced in three more goals to come within five of Penn. However, a turnover by McGarvie in the final minute spelled defeat for the Tigers as the Quakers held possession to run out the clock.

In goal, junior Emily Szelest made a season-high seven saves to secure her 12th win of the season. For the Tigers, Erin Tochihara made 10 stops.

The Quakers head to Providence, R.I. on Saturday for a noon meeting with Brown. It will mark the final game of Penn's Ivy League slate. A win against the Bears would give Penn the title, outright.

* * * *

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (4/15/09) – The Penn defense stifled the Princeton offense, as the Quakers posted a 10-5 win in women's lacrosse on Wednesday, April 15 at Franklin Field in a showdown of the Ivy League unbeatens.

No. 3-ranked Penn improves to 12-0 overall and now has sole possession of first place in the Ivy League with a 6-0 mark. No. 7-ranked Princeton falls to 10-2 and 5-1 in league play to take second in the standings along with Dartmouth.

Penn jumped out to a 3-0 lead and was up 5-2 at halftime. Both of Princeton's goals in the first half game from the eight-meter. The Quakers went on a 4-0 run to start the second, while the Tigers' best effort was a three-goal spurt in the closing minutes of the contest.

Senior Kristin Schwab had a hat trick for the Tigers and had a team-high three ground balls. Senior Holly McGarvie had a goal and an assist each, and sophomore Lizzy Drumm picked up a goal.

Erin Brennan led the Quakers' attack with a five-point effort, while Becca Edwards tallied four points. Courtney Lubbe and Samantha Bird had two points apiece.

Penn grabbed the 3-0 lead to begin the game with Brennan having a hand in each of the Quakers goals. Ali DeLuca got Penn on the board at 27:29 when she sent a low shot in on the left side of sophomore goalie Erin Tochihara after picking up a behind the goal pass from Brennan. Lubbe had a shot saved but she was able to get the ground ball and ran around the back of the cage and found Brennan open for the score at 24:41. Brennan added her second goal, again with help from Lubbe, at 22:55.

1 2    Next  »

2009-04-15