In its final home game of the season, the field hockey team could not pull out a victory on Saturday to honor its seniors. Brown entered halftime tied with the University of Pennsylvania, 1-1, on a goal by Andrea Posa '08, but the Quakers (8-8, 4-2 Ivy League) pulled away with three unanswered second-half goals to deal the Bears (0-15, 0-6) a 4-1 defeat.
Before the game, a pregame ceremony honored the senior class of co-captains Posa and Ani Kazarian '08, as well as Katie Auriemma '08, Sandhya Dhir '08 and Kristen Hodavance '08 before their final game on Warner Roof.
"I think the whole team really wanted to rally and give (the seniors) the win today," said Head Coach Tara Harrington '94. "Unfortunately, it didn't happen."
Brown entered the game coming off two straight heartbreaking losses. After a 2-1 loss to Cornell the previous Sunday on a last-minute goal, the team fell in a 3-2 overtime loss to the College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday. In the first half, Saturday's game looked like it might turn out to be yet another nail-biter. Strong fundamental play from both sides kept the game scoreless for more than 26 minutes until Penn broke through on a goal by Rachel Eng with 8:10 left in the half.
Brown took only 2:46 to answer. On a penalty corner, Victoria Sacco '09 received the ball in the middle of the field and passed to Posa on the left side, who found the back of the cage.
"That was a beautiful corner," Harrington said. "It was perfectly executed and they did a great job of finishing it."
Kazarian said responding so well to Penn's goal was characteristic of the team.
"It really shows that our team has been resilient," she said. "No matter what is thrown at us, we come back 100 percent."
Brown played one of its strongest first halves of the season, outshooting Penn 11-7. Harrington said passing was the key for the Bears.
"The kids came out with fire," she said. "They passed the ball really well (and) attacked as a unit. Our midfield joined the front line (and) our defenders were punching through into our attacking circle. Penn struggled with that. I think a lot of it was we were really just passing the ball very well. (In the) second half, we stopped passing the ball and started trying to take Penn one-on-one."
The tide turned quickly after the break. Penn roared out to score three goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half, all assisted by Margaretha Ehret. Nicole Black found the back of the cage twice, at 40:29 and again 7:38 later. Jamie Calahan wrapped up the scoring with 19:22 left to give Quakers a commanding 4-1 lead, but Harrington praised the Bears for continuing to scrap until the final whistle sounded.
"I think that one thing that these kids have consistently shown all year is their fight and their heart," she added. "They never give up."
Harrington said she would remember them fondly for their tough play no matter the circumstances.
"The five seniors played hard today," she said. "Katie Auriemma, our left back, played so well and played with a lot of heart. What they've done for four years for this program and who they are as people and how they represent this program both on and off the field, I'm just very proud of them."
"It's very bittersweet," Kazarian said about playing her final game at Brown, "(but) I'm so proud and honored to be a part of this program."
Even though a feeling of finality hung over the game, the season is not over yet. Brown will travel across town to play Providence College on Tuesday, and then go to New Haven on Saturday to take on Yale in its final game of the season.