Penn Stopped by Hartford, 2-1

by Chas Dorman
September 9, 2012

PHILADELPHIA – Same story, different day for Penn as it dropped to 0-4-0 in men’s soccer to begin the 2012 season. Despite outshooting Hartford, 24-13, the Quakers were again bitten by a late goal via a restart in a 2-1 loss to the Hawks in the Penn Soccer Classic.

After 70 scoreless minutes, the Hawks struck first in the 71st minute via a Damion Lowe goal. Lowe quickly found the rebound of a James Stamopoulos shot and banged in a shot off the right post to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Stephen Baker tried to answer quickly for the Quakers, sending two shots to goal in the next 58 seconds, but both were denied by Vitsu Tuumi, the second followed by a blocked Kamar Saint-Louis shot.

Trailing by one on the scoreboard, Penn soon trailed by one of the field as well when Baker was issued a straight red card in the 80th minute following a hard challenge at the defensive goal line to try and earn a Penn goal kick. The red card left Penn playing 10v11 – and without two normal starters in defender Nicky Yin and midfield Louis Schott who were out with injury – and trying to tie the match. Shortly after the card, Hartford doubled its lead off a corner kick as the extra man paid off when Javoni Simms found a loose ball off the scrum and sent it through a screen in the 83rd minute.

The Red and Blue pushed off the goal, with Austin Kinn and Bryan Yasukochi each taking shots which were blocked by Hartford defenders in the 84th minute. Penn’s pressure paid off in the 90th minute when Travis Cantrell corralled a ball in tight and scored his second 90th-minute goal of the season to give Penn a chance with 42 seconds remaining.

The Quakers could not move past midfield following the kickoff and fell to 0-4-0 for the first time since 1998 when Penn began the season with five consecutive losses.

Baker, who will have to sit out next Friday’s match with Villanova due to the red card, led all players with eight shots and three shots on goal. Duke Lacroix had five shots while freshman Forrest Clancy had four off the bench. Max Kurtzman was busy in goal for the Quakers, making seven saves – five of which came in the second half.

Penn finishes its five-game home stand to start 2012 on Friday against ‘Nova at 7:30 p.m.

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