W. Soccer hosts Tigers

The Penn women's soccer team will be trying to cap its most successful season in program history with a win over Princeton tomorrow morning at 11 on Rhodes Field. The Quakers (8-5-2, 1-4-1 Ivy League) have already doubled the program's previous high for wins. Nevertheless, the team believes it still has a lot to play for. There's the Princeton factor. Penn loves to beat the Tigers in anything, and women's soccer is no exception, especially since the Quakers were on the wrong side of last year's 3-2 final. "Anytime it's Penn-Princeton it's close?[there is] so much history in the school rivalry," Penn coach Patrick Baker said. "I think it's important for us to win. I know we can beat them this year," said sophomore forward Darah Ross, the leading scorer on the team with 15 points. More importantly, the Quakers would like to reward their first real graduating class with a career-ending victory. "We want to send them out on a good note," said junior defender Jill Brown, one of four Quakers to start every game this season. "My concentration for us to win is to send our five seniors out on a winning note -- they've had their fair share of losses," Baker said. The final incentive for the squad is the outside chance at postseason play a victory would give. With nine wins, and seven in the Mid-Atlantic region, the team would be in line for a possible bid to the six-team ECAC tournament, a consolation event for teams that will not continue to the NCAA tournament. "I've got to think the committee will take a look at us [with a win over Princeton]," Baker said. Since tomorrow's game is the last of the season, it is obviously the last opportunity for Penn to snatch an elusive home win in the Ivy League. Princeton is a winnable game. "I honestly feel, individually, player to player, we're a better team," Penn's coach said. Once again, the key to the game will be Penn's ability to dictate the game's tempo. Princeton leans toward a long ball style, the opposite of Penn's short-passing, possession-oriented system. "I think it's a matter of playing with intensity...keeping the ball on the ground and passing," Brown said. With a chance to extend their seasons or, in some cases, careers against an Ivy rival, intensity should not be hard to come by tomorrow morning.