It will be a family reunion

There is more to Penn-Maryland field hockey than just the game. It's a family affair. When the Quakers meet the Terrapins (7:30 p.m., Byrd Field), Penn senior defender Mandy Kauffman will get to play against her younger sister, Katie, for the final time in her collegiate career. Mandy Kauffman will probably have the unique opportunity to match up directly against her sister, a junior who plays many different positions for the Terrapins. "She's a very strong player, probably the top on the team," Mandy Kauffman said. "She always plays a different position, though. I never know whether I'll match up with her, but since she's always near the center of the field, I assume I may have to mark her at some point." The Quakers (8-3-1, 2-1-1 Ivy League) travel to Maryland having ended their two-game losing skid, the worst stretch of the season, on the strength of a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Brown. Penn's rallying cry all season has been a drive for national respect. Having dropped consecutive home games to Cornell and Penn State, the Quakers needed to rally on the road against the Bears. "We just had to beat Brown," Penn coach Anne Sage said. "It was just that simple." The Bears did not think it was that simple. They relentlessly attacked the Quakers defense, tying the score at 1 with just 15 minutes, 47 seconds remaining in the contest. For the first time this season, someone other than senior midfielder Amy Pine was the heroine. Instead, Penn called upon junior forward Abby Herbine, who tallied her fourth goal of the season 12 minutes into the contest. After battling through one scoreless extra session, Herbine burst through the Bear defense and knocked home her fifth of the season to give the Quakers the needed victory. "That was a very important goal for us," Sage said. "We struggled all game long, and they were attacking us. We really needed this win." The Quakers hope to build on this victory to keep faint hopes of an NCAA tournament berth alive. "It really was a frustrating game," Kauffman said. "We needed to maintain control, and we pulled it off. Hopefully this will carry over." Though neither side lacks motivation, the Quakers are angry. "Temple just beat Maryland," Sage said. "Now, we're going to beat Maryland. We're out for revenge. We're beating Maryland." If that's not enough, the family rivalry between the Kauffman sisters should provide a spark. "We both want very badly to win," Mandy Kauffman said. "But on the field, I'm not sure we even recognize each other. I just see her as any other player." Don't look for Mandy Kauffman to let up at all, particularly with the Quakers' tournament hopes hanging in the balance.