Soccer teams host lowly Elis tomorrow

Men face similar Yale team at 11 a.m. Soccer is a simple sport. There is no secret to it. "In Europe, we call it football because you play with your feet and you think with your head," Penn men's soccer coach George O'Neill said. The Quakers will be able to put both their heads and feet together as they face Yale on Rhodes Field at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Penn (4-7, 1-3 Ivy League) comes into the contest a downtrodden squad, having lost five of its last six games. Yale (2-11, 0-5 Ivy League) is in the Ivy cellar. The Elis have not won since Sept. 13, and have only scored two goals in Ivy play. In this game, team records don't mean anything. "I think we're better than our record shows," Penn junior defender Matt Stern said. "Looking at the Ivy League games, we've done some things that are good. The scores and win-loss records aren't reminiscent of our play. We just have to push forward and try to fix things. Yale's record isn't that great this year either." The Quakers and Elis have had similar seasons. After winning its first two contests, Yale has now lost nine straight. Penn's last win came against Florida Atlantic during fall break. Both teams have had personnel problems as well. Since the beginning of the season, at least five players have left each squad. "Anybody can beat anybody on any given day," junior forward Pat Larco said. "We've been talking by ourselves, and I don't think anyone wants to have the same feeling as we did after the losses. The team's mental condition is improving. I think we have a good shot against Yale, if we play." That could be a big if. Penn has been plagued with defensive lapses and an inability to score goals. Practice sessions have focused on finishing shots. "It's very frustrating for the whole team," O'Neill said. "We've made so many chances in so many games. It would be much worse if we weren't making chances. At times, we start pressing a bit. The defense moves up and we give up silly goals. We have to concentrate on our responsibilities and positions for 90 minutes." The positive attitude which Penn has sported throughout the season remains. Spirits lowered a bit with each successive loss, but the Quakers are convinced things will be different tomorrow. They feel assured they are the better team. "We can't get down on each other," Stern said. "We're not used to losing and nobody likes to lose, but everybody has to do it some time. We've been through this difficult time together. This is a test for us. I'm up to it, and I know the rest of the guys are too."