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Box Score<\/a> <\/p>\n FAIRFAX, Va. \u2013 The University of Pennsylvania women’s soccer team battled George Mason on Thursday night, falling to the Patriots, 1-0, at George Mason Stadium to open the 2026 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Patriots (2-1-0) scored the game’s lone goal in the 15th minute on a penalty kick from Molly Starner. Penn (0-1-0) continued to battle throughout the remainder of the match, but the Quakers were unable to find the back of the net.\u00a0<\/p>\n Quaker Notemeal<\/p>\n *Penn secured a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks, with all six of the Quakers’ corners coming in the second half.<\/p>\n *George Mason held an 11-4 edge in shots and a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal.<\/p>\n *Senior goalkeeper Megan Graves<\/a> made three saves on the night playing all 90 minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n *Zula Root<\/a> recorded Penn’s lone shot on goal, forcing a save from George Mason goalkeeper Libby Davy in the 62nd minute.<\/p>\n *Eden Veenema<\/a>, Hailey Adamsky<\/a>, and Lily White<\/a> each registered\u00a0a\u00a0shot for the Quakers.<\/p>\n How it happened\u00a0<\/p>\n George Mason came out aggressively, creating several early opportunities. However, the Quakers’ defense kept\u00a0the contest scoreless through the opening 14 minutes.<\/p>\n The Patriots found the back of the net in the 15th minute after a Penn handball resulted in a penalty kick. Starner converted on the early opportunity, giving George Mason a 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n Penn looked to answer, but the Patriots’ defense held the Quakers without a shot on goal during the opening 45 minutes. Graves kept the Red and Blue\u00a0within a goal\u00a0late in the half, making a save on George Mason’s Kylie Beauregard in the 42nd minute.<\/p>\n Penn’s best scoring opportunity came in the 62nd minute. Adamsky\u00a0served\u00a0a cross into the far side of the box which found Zula Root<\/a>. Root sent a shot toward the bottom-left corner, but Davy made the save to preserve the Patriots’ one-goal advantage.<\/p>\n Graves continued to keep the Quakers within striking distance, making saves on Beauregard in the 52nd minute and Mia Casciani in the 65th minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n