September feels like a long time ago, especially with the warm days of late spring and summer now in full swing in Philadelphia. But despite plenty of upsets by Penn teams over the course of this 2024-25 campaign, one must look back to its opening weeks to find the best.
Penn men’s soccer opened its year — and the renovated Rhodes Field — on the Sunday night of Labor Day Weekend. Their first opponent was none other than Pitt, who entered the match 3-0 and ranked No. 3 in the nation. The Quakers were outmatched on paper. But soccer is played on grass — and on the pristine sod along the banks of the Schuylkill River, Penn was dominant.
The game was a defensive battle, with both teams hunting for chances on goal. The only score of the game came in the 42nd minute, when junior forward Jack Wagoner found the back of the net. However, Wagoner’s goal was not a fluke — the Quakers dominated the match in many statistical categories. Penn had eight shots on goal, compared to just two for the Panthers.
This upset victory would prove the start to a wildly successful regular season campaign for the Quakers, who saw themselves go from the hunters to the hunted as they won their first four games and were nationally ranked by the time Ivy League play began at the end of September. During the 16 games of the regular season, Penn only lost twice, drew once, and had a perfect record against Ancient Eight competition. The Quakers struggled in the postseason, but the memories of a lovely season opener remain.
Read about the rest of DP Sports’ End of the Year Awards for the 2024-25 season here.
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