Penn to take Rhodes Field versus Bucknell in home opener

After 1-3 start on the road,After 1-3 start on the road,Quakers looking forward toAfter 1-3 start on the road,Quakers looking forward toplaying on own turf Contrary to popular belief, you won't have to wait until Saturday to see the Quakers' opening home game. Instead, today at 4 p.m., the Penn women's soccer team faces Bucknell in an interesting matchup of two different game philosophies. How to get there? Where is it? You've probably walked it countless times. On game day, thousands make the pilgrimage down Spruce Street to the intersection at 33rd, then turning bearing right onto South Street to enter hallowed Franklin Field. But today, continue on down South Street to the architectural curiosity called the Hollenbach Center and follow the stairs to the street level below. Turning right, the small road soon begins to run beside a tall green fence lined with large trees. Behind it lies Rhodes Field, the home of Penn soccer. Flanked by railroad tracks to the north and I-76 to the south, Rhodes Field is perhaps not ideally located. Compared to the Quakers' previous home of Franklin Field, however, it was a godsend. "When the girls moved down here from Franklin Field two years ago, they thought they had died and gone to heaven," Penn coach Patrick Baker. The field's oddly bowed appearance and patchwork of sod repairs will be a welcome sight for the Quakers (1-3), who have lost three out of four matches on their opening road trip. "We're not playing up to our capabilities," Baker said. "I don't think we've recovered from [the season-opening Tribe Invitational], and I don't think we've recovered from the off-campus incident." The "off-campus incident" in question involved allegations of hazing leveled against team veterans, which resulted in a freshman team member being rushed to the hospital after she was found lying unconscious from alcohol poisoning. "The program suffered a black eye because of this," Baker said. "But they know what they need to do, and, hopefully, their actions on the field will speak louder than words." Given their 1-3 start, it seems a lot of skeletons in the closet need cleaning out. Looking for something to build on, today's match versus the Bison will be a valuable measuring stick of just how far the Quakers have come to this point. "We took a 4-1 loss at home two years ago to a 2-2 draw at their place," Baker said. "We were able to sneak up on people last year, but this year they know we're an improved team. I feel we're a better team than last year, but we've got to prove it." Bucknell (4-2), returning five starting seniors and half of the all-Patriot League team, is a hungrier team than last year's version, with something to prove. After wrapping up the Patriot regular-season title, the Bison lost in the conference tourney and watched Colgate nip the league from right under their noses. With leading scorer Liz Woodrow, midfield general Amy Riviere and captains Amy Green and Becky Snover back in defense all returning for their senior year, it's a sure bet they will be more determined than ever. In the NCSAA coaches' Mid-Atlantic regional poll, the Bison are currently ranked No. 10. To put that in perspective, William & Mary, to whom the Quakers lost to earlier this month, are ranked No. 2. Soccer America selected Bucknell as the favorite to win the Patriot League. Certainly, the Bison will be a challenge. Adjustments will have to be made by Penn, beginning with adapting to Bucknell's style of play. With Patriot League co-Rookie of the Year Katie Fink playing defense, Baker expects to see more of last year's long-ball Bucknell. "Fink is a very direct player," Baker said. "She's got a real good leg. She knocks these high 50-yard balls. We're going to have to rush her instead of giving her three or four touches to line up her long ball and force her to turn it over." Bucknell's strike force is also a concern. "We're sticking to the 4-3-3," Baker said. "Bucknell is really strong up the middle, but we're going to need a lot of matchups. Jill Brown will mark Woodrow, and Anne Davies, in midfield, will take on the playmaker? probably Amy Riviere." Getting on the scoreboard first is a real priority for the Quakers in today's matchup, since Penn has fallen behind in three of the last four matches played. "We need to take the initiative and get that first goal." Baker said. "That will take their players out of their comfort zone, and then we can start picking them apart." The lineup for today's match will feature a few changes for the Quakers involving two seniors. The first will be the exclusion of co-captain Heather Herson at fullback as she serves her automatic one match ban for a red card at Dartmouth. The red card, issued in the 85th minute, was a result of Herson's last ditch efforts to stop a break away Dartmouth striker from scoring. "She instinctively grabbed when she caught up to her and got her jersey," Baker said. "Up to that point, we were down 2-1 and had just missed two great scoring chances." Baker hopes the loss of the senior co-captain will rally his troops 'round the flag. "She took one for the team," he said. "I hope the team will look at this and say, 'This game is for her'." The other change is the return of senior midfielder Yuka Morita to the starting lineup. After her performance at La Salle, tallying a goal after coming on as a substitute, her rich vein of form promises only to improve. "She's playing well, and she's got her confidence back," Baker said. After starting her freshman and sophomore years on the team, last year was full of setbacks due to injuries and illness. This year, stiff competition for a starting spot has kept her out of the lineup -- until now. So tomorrow, as you stroll out of your afternoon classes into the early fall warmth, take a practice stroll down South Street, down the stairs to the soccer valhala of Rhodes Field.