Big Green will test W. Soccer

The Penn women's soccer team faces its biggest challenge of the season when it takes on Dartmouth (3-1) tomorrow at Rhodes Field. The Big Green, coming off a 1-0 loss to a UConn team that went to the Final Four last year, makes the trip to Philadelphia, where Penn head coach Patrick Baker expects "Dartmouth may be in for an unpleasant surprise." The Quakers (2-2-1), coming off a last minute tie at Bucknell, are looking forward to taking on a Dartmouth squad that pounded them last year 8-0. Baker believes this year's team is "much improved" and is "looking forward to the challenge" that a nationally-ranked team like No. 19 Dartmouth presents. Offensively the Quakers hope to expose some of the weaknesses in the Dartmouth defense that could open up the scoring for forwards Yuka Morita, who seems to be back in her all-Ivy form, and sophomore Darah Ross. The defense, led by co-captain Heike Krippendorff and junior Jill Brown, will attempt to keep the Big Green's offense in check. The Quakers' defensive approach for this match will incorporate a zone coverage rather than the traditional man to man. By utilizing this defense Baker hopes to prevent Dartmouth forward Melissa McBean from drawing her defender away from the ball, thereby creating passing lanes to the net. The whole attitude of the team has improved. "The freshman who are starting or playing a lot really don't know what to expect from a team like Dartmouth," Baker said. But the veterans know that "respect, not fear," according to Baker, is the approach to take. The Quakers have enough respect for Dartmouth's talent, but the young and constantly improving team is looking to earn some respect for itself.