The Penn women's soccer team is on a roll. After a rough start which featured a difficult schedule, including three ranked opponents, Penn has not lost in its last five games.
"We're excited to finally have a couple wins on our schedule," senior Rachelle Snyder said. "We're hoping we're just beginning to get the momentum."
Today, the Quakers (5-4-1, 3-0-0 Ivy) get a break from their arduous Ivy League schedule as they take on crosstown rival Drexel at Rhodes Field at 3 p.m.
The Dragons (4-7-3) come to Penn riding a winning streak of their own. Drexel has won its last two games, recording shutouts in both.
But the Dragons should find themselves overmatched in a game against a more skilled team.
"Playing a team like Drexel, it's more important how we come out than how they come out," Snyder said. "If we go out and play our game, they shouldn't be a problem."
That, of course, does not necessarily mean anything.
It took two overtimes for the Quakers to overcome another city rival, La Salle, in a game they should have won easily. La Salle easily beat Drexel, 3-0, in September.
Drexel has also suffered humiliating losses, including a 5-0 blowout at the hands of Virginia Commonwealth and 3-0 loss to Saint Joseph's. Penn hopes for a similar result.
The Dragons are led by freshman Alexandra Yiantsos, who leads the team in scoring with nine points.
That should not be too much for Penn's senior dynamic duo of Snyder and Katy Cross.
"I think Katy and I are finally having a chance to work more together, and we're getting more and more accustomed to each other," Snyder said. "We're hoping that'll just improve with the time."
Cross, an All-American, leads the Red and Blue in scoring with 14 points, including five goals.
And Snyder is almost on pace with her teammate. The San Diego native is second on the team with 11 points, including four goals.
"Rachelle has really stepped up her game and really come to play this year," Penn coach Darren Ambrose said in a press release. "She is becoming more and more dangerous in our attacks, and we look forward to her continuing her excellent play."
That goes for the whole team. Penn has been nothing short of excellent in its last few games. The Quakers have stepped up after a rough first month and have put themselves in a position to be serious contenders in the Ivy League. So far, they are undefeated in the Ancient Eight.
After Drexel, Penn will take on Ivy League rival Dartmouth in a game featuring two of the Ancient Eight's top teams. Dartmouth has had a tough run so far this season, with a loss to No. 12 Princeton and a 1-0 loss at home to Yale.
All three of those teams lie in the path of an Ivy League championship and an NCAA Tournament berth for the Quakers.
"Those are huge games for us," Snyder said. "If we can keep our momentum going, no way we shouldn't deserve to win those games, but we'll see; I'm excited."
Today should serve as a tune- up for those games and a chance for Penn to build on its momentum. The Red and Blue will need all the momentum they can get, because the games against Dartmouth, Yale and Princeton will determine the success or failure of the Quakers' season.
