W. Soccer to face Dartmouth in Ivy Opener

Big Green came back toBig Green came back todefeat Penn last year 2-1 After putting an end to its two-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against La Salle on Wednesday, the Penn women's soccer team looks to continue on with its winning ways as it travels to Dartmouth tomorrow in the Quakers' Ivy opener. The match gets under way at 4 p.m. and there is much more to be gained from a strong performance by Penn than simply another mark in the victory column. The winner of the Ivy League division gets an automatic bid to go to the NCAA tournament at the conclusion of the season. The upcoming game against the Big Green and Penn's second Ivy League competitor of the season, Harvard, are seen by Penn coach Patrick Baker as the two strongest teams in the league. We have nothing to lose by going up [to Dartmouth]," Baker said. "We've never beaten the team." Two years ago, during Baker's first year with the Quakers, the women lost 8-0 to the Big Green. "Besides what happened at William and Mary this past weekend, it was probably the worst coaching experience I've ever had," Baker said. When Penn met Dartmouth last year, the Quakers left the field at half time ahead 1-0. But with 12 minutes left in the second half, Penn's women let up two goals, losing 2-1. "They didn't know what it took then to win at the Division I level," Baker said. But the Quakers are learning now what they must do to reach the top. "[The game] will be a true character builder," Baker said. "There is so much at stake." This year's meeting with Dartmouth will be different from the last. In addition to a change in the coaching staff -- the former coach left to take the job at Stanford -- the Big Green will also have Kate Andrews on the field, who was out last year due to injury and is perhaps the second-best midfielder in the league, according to Baker. Dartmouth seniors Jenna Kurowski and Melissa McBean will return to add to the team's offensive strength. Kurowski has scored the only two goals of the season for the Big Green this year. With a win, not only would the Quakers even up their record at 2-2, but also would get a leg up in the Ivy League.