W. Soccer has Bison problem

Heike Krippendorff was the only one on the Penn bench standing and cheering with 17 minutes to play. Krippendorff was one of the first people to give Darah Ross five after she scored the Quakers' only goal. The co-captain was the first to meet freshman goalie Perry Cohen, whose guaranteed win didn't happen. The Quakers fell 4-1 to Bucknell last night at Franklin Field in what coach Patrick Baker could only describe as a "setback." Granted, Rome wasn't built in a day and this is only the fourth year of varsity women's soccer at Penn, but last night was a prime opportunity for the Quakers (0-4) to win their first game of the year. Penn has a bad habit of falling behind in the first half and having to play catch up for the remainder of the contest. Last night was no different. Lisa Gibbons put the Bison (4-1-1) up 1-0 in the 36th minute with a tremendous blast from 30 yards out that banked in off the post. Freshman goalie Cohen was visibly upset after the goal, continually stomping her feet and cursing herself. "It just seemed to all fall apart tonight," Baker said. "It was our chance in front of a home crowd to go out and do some good things, and it didn't happen. At halftime, I really wanted to go in with the lead or the tie, and when the kid strokes a ball from 30 yards out with nine minutes left it becomes disheartening. Once again, we're trying to fight to tie it in the second half." The Quakers were saved from a shutout by freshman sensation Darah Ross. Ross scored on a penalty shot with 10 minutes left in the game after being taken down in the box. Ross shares the team lead in goals with sophomore Yuka Morita and is continually praised by Baker and her teammates. All was not lost in last night's defeat as several individuals stood out with exemplary play. Junior Amaryllis Seabrooks shined up front and Wendy Bass, making her first start of the year, was superb at sweeper. "Wendy Bass did a fantastic job back at sweeper," Baker said. "For her first time in, none of those four goals were her fault." The effort is there. The desire is there. The talent is there. Why the Quakers can't turn the corner is a question the whole team is pondering, but it's answer has not come. "I'm not sure what it is, I'm still figuring it out," Krippendorff said. "This is a game we could have won and probably should have won. I'm disappointed and I know I'm not the only one. I don't think our team hasn't gelled, we're just not putting it in the net." Tomorrow, Penn will look at tape of their loss to the Bison. The Quakers won't enjoy it. They probably will turn their head and close their eyes at times. But Baker thinks it will hit home. And if it strikes a nerve within the youthful Quakers and gives a little fuel for their fire next time out, then next game might be a little more enjoyable for Baker.

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