Quakers do not care about Soccer Seven

When Steve Marcinkiewicz was growing up, there weren't many big-time college football teams in the Philadelphia area. So he watched a lot of soccer. "You watch high school soccer when you're in grade school, then you play high school soccer and watch college," the Penn men's soccer co-captain said. "It's an easy sport to get into. All you need is a ball, and you can play anywhere." In an effort to capitalize on local enthusiasm, the Soccer Seven -- an alliance made up of men's soccer teams from Drexel, La Salle, Philadelphia Textile, St. Joseph's, Temple, Villanova and Penn -- was formed in 1979. At the time, both Textile and the Quakers had top-ranked squads. The Soccer Seven was supposed to minimize travel time and the number of classes athletes missed, while providing the teams with outstanding competition. "La Salle and Penn have played every year since my junior year, 1973," Explorer coach and former player Pat Farrell said. "Our guys enjoy playing against Penn. You have great competition within 15 to 20 minutes of your own university." Penn has been an "associate member" of the Soccer Seven since 1990, when then-coach Steve Baumann decided the Quakers would be better served by competing elsewhere. Other members of the league regret Penn's decision, although they understand the scheduling constraints involved. "Anytime you have geography involved, there are natural rivalries," Drexel athletic director and Soccer Seven secretary-treasurer Johnson Bowie said. "The league is an artistic success, not a financial one. There is mutual respect between the member schools. Everyone wanted Penn to stay in, and would like to see Penn come back." The Ivy League allows only 15 games a season, so the combination of six Soccer Seven games and seven Ivy contests would practically fill the schedule. Textile is not in a league, and does not have that problem. The other teams' conferences are far less restrictive than the Ivy League. The Quakers have succeeded in the Soccer Seven in the past -- three shared titles and numerous athletes named to the all-star teams, including current assistant coach Dave Cardie from 1982-84. However, Soccer Seven competition has declined, while Ivy games have become tougher, according to the Quakers. Penn needs tougher games, it said, in order to further its goal of national recognition. Penn coach George O'Neill is currently seeking new tournaments, like the Quakers' upcoming trip to Florida Atlantic and nationally ranked Florida International. "All the Philadelphia kids on this team could have gone to any of the Soccer Seven schools," junior defender David Choi said. "I would never want to go back in the league. One or two of the Soccer Seven games is enough. It's not the type of teams I want to play. I'd rather play a national power." Soccer Seven executive director Ken Krsolovic said he regrets that Penn does not play the other six teams. "I certainly understand Penn's position," he said. "We have left the door open so if Penn's coach and administration have a change of heart, they can return. It would enhance the league if all seven teams competed." Though Penn only plays four Soccer Seven games a year, and does not compete for the championship, the quest for neighborhood bragging rights remains the same. The games are hard-fought, but there is a camaraderie between opposing players that lasts even after the contest. "I've been playing soccer since I was five years old, 13 years now," freshman defender Brad Copeland said. "I've always thought they've been good players since I was little, so playing with them is a good opportunity for me. It kind of adds to the chemistry of our team, since we've known each other, or known of each other, and respect each other." This year, three Philadelphia-area natives -- junior midfielder Brendan Sullivan, junior defender Matt Stern and sophomore forward Read Goodwin -- have stepped into the lineup. They have enjoyed playing in front of a home crowd. "You play harder on your own field in front of your own crowd," Sullivan said. "You have fans at every game, and you can't beat that. They all know you and they're all cheering for you. They might be cheering against your team, but they're still cheering for you. It's more disrespectful to lose in front of your own people at your own place, so you fight harder. It's part of the reason I came home." Of the six local Quakers, all except Copeland have played together before. Besides competing in high school, they have participated on local squads, club teams and many invitational tournaments. Marcinkiewicz and Sullivan have been on the same side since they were 12 years old. The pair joined with Stern on the undefeated 1991 Pennsylvania state select team. Goodwin and Stern collaborated on the InterCounty select team back in 1986. Choi, Stern, Sullivan and Marcinkiewicz teamed up to win the Pennsylvania state indoor championship in 1992. "The longer they play together, they've got a better chance at seeing each other's strengths and weaknesses," O'Neill said. "When you get those guys together there will be more incentive to work together because they know how much the game means to them." With all these competitions, most would expect rivalries, but the Quakers seem to be taking it all in stride. "I know all these guys," Sullivan said. "I've seen them grow up and I've grown up with them and followed their careers. You know their persona and how they play the game, and you can expect certain things from them. We're creatures of habit, and you know what you can and can't rely on them for." And as for the Soccer Seven, Penn's Stern said, "We have other things to worry about."