No. 14 Penn women's lacrosse pulls off an upset against No. 5 Loyola Maryland

According to coach Karin Corbett, it was a classic “underdog win” and a “complete game,” pitting No. 14 Penn women’s lacrosse against No. 5 Loyola Maryland.

Loyola was on a winning streak and had never lost on the road this season before facing Penn. The cool air and overcast skies did not dampen the Quakers' spirits as they fought hard for victory from start to finish and achieved a commanding 13-6 victory.

“That’s when we’re at our best … when the entire offense works together,” Corbett said. “To limit Loyola to just 6 goals, [which] Normally it’s a very high-scoring team, which was just fantastic.”

Loyola's (13-2) team brought a large crowd that loudly expressed their support for the Greyhounds, shouting whenever they gained possession of the ball or approached the cage. But Penn (10-3, 3-2 Ivy) remained unfazed and kept an eye on the game.

“To be honest, I didn’t notice it that much,” admitted junior attacker Anna Brandt, who scored a game-high four goals. “When I’m on the field, I focus on my teammates [and the] Energy from our bank.”

The game began with a slow quarter, with the first goal of the game – by Penn – coming after more than 8 minutes. Both teams' offensive and defensive rhythms were the same, Penn tied the game and then Loyola found a way to sneak in another goal. Finally, Penn's offense found its rhythm and went on a 4-0 run to end the first half with a strong 7-4 lead.

Penn opened the second half by pushing even harder. Penn's dominant defense forced Loyola into a shot clock violation, giving Penn a chance to score. The team achieved this after excellent, quick passes and a confident goal from freshman attacker Catherine Berkery just over four minutes into the third quarter.

The Quakers didn't give Loyola a chance to recover, and junior attacker Keely Block threw a sneaky pass behind the cage to senior attacker Lexi Edmonds. Edmonds then tried to find an open shot and knocked it in, increasing the gap to 9-4. The assist was Block's third of the game and showcased her keen eye and quick decision-making.

“It’s a lot of trust,” Block said. “And we do that every day in training.”

Penn's defense stayed on its toes even as the offense kept up the pace, with senior defender Grace Fujinaga scoring a steal that senior attacker Niki Miles converted into a transition goal.

Desperate to put numbers on the scoreboard, Loyola tried to find a gap in Penn's defense with a methodical passing approach, but the Greyhounds came away empty-handed. The third quarter ended with senior goalkeeper Kelly Van Hoesen parrying a poorly placed shot and maintaining the Penn lead.

“[Loyola’s] “A really dynamic offense,” Brandt remarked about the opponent. “They find gaps in the zone… so we just tried to play lockdown defense, [with] a lot of communication.”

The plan worked as the Penn Quakers managed to hold Loyola scoreless throughout the third quarter. The Greyhounds, looking to find some momentum and give themselves a fighting chance, opened the final quarter with two goals, the first of which came thirty seconds later.

“At that moment we woke up,” said Brandt.

The team's play reflected that sentiment as Hoesen managed to stop Maryland's offense by stopping two shot attempts from Loyola. The offense also got the ball as Brandt got the ball and weaved through several Greyhound defenders to sling the ball into the middle of the cage, increasing Penn's lead to 12-6.

As both teams increased their tempo with just a few minutes left in the quarter, the crowd on both sides became nervous. The cheers grew louder and shouts of “Whistle!” echoed through the air. The red-blues responded with a game-winning goal. Brandt came through again for Penn and scored her fourth goal. As the clock ticked down to the final ten seconds, the Penn fans began to cheer, and the Quakers held on to the ball before running down the field in celebration.

“We rose to the occasion and took every possession seriously. Our main focus was coming in, winning every possession and not taking anything for granted,” Block said of the win.

“We have to prove that we can play at this level, at this pace and at this level no matter who we play,” coach Corbett said.

And at least tonight the Quakers did.

They plan to do the same this Saturday, April 20, here at Franklin Field against Brown.