Penn women's soccer's first loss of the season comes at Hofstra

Despite the best efforts of Penn women's soccer's newest athletes, the Quakers were unable to stave off their first loss of the season at the hands of No. 25 Hofstra. With this result, Penn moves to 2-1-1 on the season, after building a two-game win streak at home.

Hofstra (5-1) dominated Penn in shots throughout the entire match, starting off with an early rush. Pride freshman Georgia Brown scored the first goal of the game in the 26th minute, heading a cross pass from teammate Lucy Shepherd out of the reach of sophomore goaltender Laurence Gladu. 

Gladu was one of a few rookie Quakers who shined, especially in the first half. She was tested in the early minutes, with most of Hofstra's seven first-half shots coming before Penn found its footing. 

After giving up the first goal for the third time this season, Penn rallied and managed to find the back of the net just before the first half ended. Sophomore Madison Liebman got Penn on the scoreboard with a corner kick that ricocheted off of the Hofstra goalposts that she was able to one-time into the upper-right corner. Her goal, which doubled as her first collegiate point, was assisted by freshman forward Isobel Glass, whose assist also was her first collegiate point.

However, the Red and Blue were unable to keep the momentum through the break. Hofstra dominated the second half, even after sophomore forward Ginger Fontenot prevented a Hofstra chance by deflecting a corner kick. Pride junior Ellen Halseth's impressive individual effort resulted in a goal as she charged in from the left sideline and put the ball past the reach of a diving Gladu early in the second half. 

This time, the Quakers were unable to rally, with only two second-half shots as Hofstra racked up 10. Pride senior Miri Taylor scored the dagger in the 86th minute, one-timing the ball over Gladu's head, off the crossbar, and in.

Gladu ultimately finished with six saves in a match where Hofstra outshot Penn 17-7, and the Quakers avoided a shut-out off of Liebman's first collegiate point. With their two wins so far coming against winless teams, Penn women's soccer will hope that their young players will continue to play well against stronger opponents.

The Quakers hope to regain momentum this week at College Park, as they take on Maryland (4-1-1) on Thursday.