Several Penn teams have been putting up impressive campaigns through the 2022 season. In addition to football, which remains undefeated, two teams, men’s soccer and field hockey, earned national recognition in polls.
Men’s soccer, after starting the season uneven, has strung together eight straight victories before drawing with Drexel 1-1 on Tuesday. This is the longest winning streak the Quakers have had in more than 40 years. As of Monday, they stood at No. 5 in the NCAA rating percentage index poll, which accounts for a team’s wins and losses and their strength of schedule when ranking them.
The Quakers beat No. 15 Cornell in Ithaca, 3-2, capped off by an 89th-minute game-winning goal from sophomore defender Leo Burney, in what was essentially this season’s de-facto Ivy League Championship based on where those teams are in the standings. That victory propelled them into the No. 16 ranking in the NCAA United Soccer Coaches poll in addition to fifth in the RPI poll.
Penn has been led offensively by senior midfielder and forward Ben Stitz, who has been on a tear this season, netting goals in seven straight games, all of them victories; the longest streak by a Penn player in over 30 seasons. His performances have earned him a spot on the United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer teams of the week.
Penn field hockey endured a rough start to the season, losing its first seven matches, though five of its opponents were ranked in the top 25, and four of them were ranked in the top 10. Most impressively, the Quakers lost by only a goal to No. 1 Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., and that game marked the first time the Wildcats trailed this season.
The Quakers have since bounced back from their 0-7 start to go 4-1 in their next five games, with their most impressive victory coming via a 2-0 shutout of then-No. 24 Temple. Penn’s recent hot streak has earned the team a place in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association polls, ranking No. 24, and No. 23 based on their RPI.
The Red and Blue are coming off a 3-2 comeback victory against Brown over the weekend, with two goals being scored by junior forward and midfielder Allison Kuzyk. Her performances earned her Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate