The Lady Statesmen (3-4-1, 0-1-1 MCC) were outshot just 16-7, but could not keep the opportunistic Crusaders off the board.

Penn gave up an early goal at the 1:56 mark and never really recovered. Clarke (3-3-3, 1-0-1 MCC) added another goal at 30:55 to lead 2-0.

The visitors finally put a mark on the scoreboard when Sophie Duke (Jr., Coventry, England, Warwickshire College) scored off a pass from Erin Dickey (Sr., Collinsville, Ill., Southwestern CC) at the 35:28 mark. The goal is Duke's second of 2009, while the assist is Dickey's first this year.

Despite trailing by only one goal at the break, Penn failed to draw even when play resumed as the second half was dominated by Clarke. The Crusaders scored in the 63rd, 81st, and 86th minutes to clinch victory and hand the Lady Statesmen their first league loss of the fall.

Dickey and Erika Larson (Fr., Plain City, Utah, Fremont HS) each managed two shots apiece in the loss.

After missing five games due to injury, Kristen Dolen (Sr., Independence, Mo., William Chrisman HS) returned to action Saturday and recorded five saves between the pipes.

Next: Penn travels to Mount Pleasant Wednesday to face Iowa Wesleyan in Midwest Collegiate Conference action at 2 p.m.