Five different players scored for Penn in the opening period.
HANOVER, N.H. -- No. 9 Penn had been away from Ivy League play for three weeks, but its return to Ancient Eight play featured a return to the win column as the Quakers defeated Dartmouth, 10-6, on Saturday.
Lindsey Smith and Nina Corcoran each had hat tricks for Penn in the win, Smith finishing with four points.
The Quakers built a 6-1 lead in the first half, giving themselves more than enough cushion to withstand a mini-run from Dartmouth in the second half. Any time it appeared the Big Green would find a rhythm, the Quakers would counter. After Dartmouth scored early in the second half, Smith and Corcoran combined for two goals in 1:36 to give the Quakers their largest lead of the day, 8-2, with 20:31 to play. The Big Green would score again in quick fashion -- a free position from Jaclyn Leto with 19:32 to play, but Lely DeSimone would stuff any momentum with her second of the game 0:52 later.
Dartmouth who score twice in 0:52 on goals from Ingrid Hermanson and Liz Calby to get within four at 9-5, but Corcoran connected on a free position with 13:24 to play for Pennâs 10th goal of the game.
Penn dominated the first half, taking 16 shots to nine for the Big Green. The Red and Blue capitalized on sloppy ball control by the Big Green as Dartmouth committed six turnovers in the opening 30 minutes to just one for the Quakers.
Five different players scored for Penn in the opening period, led by Lindsey Smith who had two goals and an assist. Iris Williamson opened the scoring in quick fashion, scoring 1:03 into the game off a Smith pass to give Penn an early lead. At the 3:45 mark, Nina Corcoran struck on a free position to give the Quakers a two-goal lead.
The Big Green would score its only goal of the half when Jaclyn Leto connected on a free position at the 5:52 mark, momentarily giving Dartmouth a bit of momentum. Neither team scored for the next run of play, but it was the Quakers who struck next as Tory Bensen charged to goal from wide right and scored her 18th goal of the season at 14:34 to provide Penn another two-goal lead.
The teams traded chances after Bensenâs goal until Smith scored her first of the half with 7:40 remaining in the period. She would add her second of the period in the final minute of the half, depositing a Bensen pass with 27.7 seconds to play.
Penn won the ensuing draw control, Lydia Miller winning a battle on the ground for the ball to give the Quakers a final chance to add to their lead. After a foul by Dartmouth, Miller swung the ball across the field and Nina Corcoran worked the ball up field to Lely DeSimone who charged at the Dartmouth cage and fired home her 17th goal of the season with 5.5 seconds remaining on the clock.
Penn has won nine of its last 11 games against Dartmouth and three of its last four in Hanover.
