Baldwin Outpaced by Penn Charter in 5–0 Loss, as Early Goal Woes Continue

With each passing game, the script has started to feel familiar for Baldwin.

An early goal conceded. A scramble to recover. Moments of individual promise, but not enough cohesion. And against a well-drilled Inter-Ac opponent like Penn Charter, those patterns proved costly once again.

The Baldwin School Polar Bears suffered a 5–0 defeat on the road Friday afternoon, undone by an all-too-familiar slow start and an inability to connect in the final third. The result drops Baldwin to 7–4 overall and 1–4 in the Inter-Ac League, and leaves head coach Adrian Cox looking for urgency — and answers.

“We talk about starting fast and being mentally and physically ready for the game,” Cox said after the match. “Somehow we are still conceding early goals, which is not the way you want to start the game.”

For the fourth time in five league matches, Baldwin found itself trailing inside the opening five minutes. Penn Charter capitalized on a defensive lapse almost immediately after kickoff, putting the Polar Bears on their heels from the outset.

That early deficit — so often a momentum killer — forced Baldwin into a reactive posture again. Penn Charter, confident and poised in possession, dictated the tempo from midfield and doubled its lead midway through the first half. At halftime, Baldwin was down 2–0, searching for both rhythm and resolve.

To their credit, Baldwin emerged in the second half with noticeably more energy. The press was tighter. The effort was there. But execution lagged behind.

“We increased the energy a little bit in the second half,” Cox said. “But we only created two real opportunities at goal.”

The best of those chances came off a well-designed corner set piece. Freshman midfielder Elise Skawinski delivered a teasing ball to the far post, where fellow freshman and right back Zoey Schaubel timed her run perfectly. Schaubel’s first-time volley from eight yards out was struck cleanly — maybe too cleanly — and soared just over the bar.

“That was our best chance off the set piece,” Cox noted. “We score that, we go down 2–1 and it’s a whole new game. We have some energy and momentum.”

Junior co-captain Makena Lee also made her presence felt, making several dangerous runs behind the Penn Charter backline. But the final ball never came. Baldwin’s midfield struggled to connect the crucial pass that would have sprung Lee into space — a missing link that stifled any hopes of a comeback.

“Makena has speed and is a threat in the attack,” Cox said. “But we need to get her the ball at the right times. Our passing needs to be better to be able to threaten opposing backlines.”

While Baldwin pushed forward, gaps opened up behind them — and Penn Charter was ruthless in transition. The hosts added three more goals in the second half, capitalizing on Baldwin’s stretched shape and sealing a commanding 5–0 victory.

Despite the scoreline, Baldwin netminder Anaka Boyd-Volz was active and composed in goal, registering nine saves — several of them crucial stops to prevent the margin from widening even further.

Still, the loss highlighted some of the core issues that have haunted Baldwin in league play: slow starts, disorganization in defense, and missed connections in attack.

“We need to be more committed to defending and staying organized together,” Cox emphasized. “We’ll continue to work on starting the games better. I believe in this young Baldwin team. I know they are capable of playing much harder and smarter together.”

The road doesn’t get easier. Baldwin returns home on Tuesday, October 7, for a 4 p.m. match against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), another key test in a rugged Inter-Ac schedule.

For a team still finding its identity, Tuesday offers more than just a chance at redemption — it’s an opportunity to finally flip the script.

“If we play tougher, faster, smarter, and have more passion and intensity,” Cox said, “then the games in the league won’t be as lopsided. I look forward to regrouping and getting the team back on the practice field to work on our skills and game plan for SCH.”

With talent emerging — particularly in a strong freshman class — and leadership from upperclassmen like Lee, Baldwin has the pieces. Now, it’s about putting them together before the next whistle blows.