W. Soccer still seeking Ivy win

Freshman defender Heather Herson remembers watching perennial Ivy powerhouse Brown (3-1 Ivy League, 5-6 overall) as a kid when the Bears came to her home state Connecticut to play the state's top teams. She will have a chance to battle against Brown herself tomorrow as the Penn women's soccer team (0-4, 3-6-1) hosts the Bears at Franklin Field (6 p.m.). The Quakers, who are still seeking their first Ivy League win after 18 consecutive losses, feel that tomorrow's game might be their best shot to snatch an Ivy League victory this season. The upset-minded Quakers will experience many positive firsts against Brown. It is the first time in the Quaker's brief three-year history that Penn is coming into a game with a winning streak (two consecutive wins against West Chester and Lafayette). Transporting that momentum and winning attitude into tomorrow's game will be key. "[We have to] keep playing the way we have been playing," freshman midfielder Lisa Paster said. "We have to go into the game with confidence and expect to win. It is a prime time to upset Brown." Penn, at the very least, believes it will be at its emotional peak for the game. The Quakers definitely feel there will be a carryover effect from the last two games. "I think [the last two games] will definitely help a lot," sophomore midfielder Kelly Nolan said. "Our spirits are really high." Although the Quakers still have a home game against co-Ivy cellar dweller Princeton (0-4, 2-9) in the season finale, the streaking Quakers feel that this game might be their best chance to pull out an Ivy win due to the teams current winning ways. "If we're ever going to win an Ivy League game, it's this one," Penn coach Suzette Wolf said. Another positive first for the Quakers in tomorrow's game against the Bears, which will even add to the Quaker's fiestiness, will be a rocking home field advantage of family and friends. Parents weekend coincides with the game and the two shall meet at Franklin Field. "I hope it helps," Wolf said. "[It should] make everyone really excited and put spirit in the game." Wolf feels that a major key for the game is for her team to remain "psyched for 90 minutes of Division I soccer." All the emotion in tomorrow's game makes her optimistic. The game will also give curious parents a chance to watch their offspring in action. Herson says that this will make the game exciting. "A lot of parents are tired of just hearing about our team," Herson said. "A lot of friends are coming [also]." The only thing that could wreck this joyous homecoming party is Brown, a team that bombasted Penn 6-0 last year. The Bears, who currently are third in the Ivies, are lead by juniors Jessica Greaux and Mia Dammen. Wolf describes the Bears as a physical team that is strong in all areas. Brown's only weakness might be its play on artificial turf, an advantage Penn will try to capitalize on tomorrow. However, Wolf says, this will cause the Bears not to come into the game with overconfidence. Wolf feels that the keys for a Quaker victory are strong games from senior goaltender Debbie Goldklang and by freshman defenders Anne Davies and Jill Brown. In addition, offensive catalyst Yuka Morita will have to continue the hot streak that she is on. Penn needs to combine emotion with execution. If successful, another first might happen.