F. Hockey faces biggest test against Terps

The biblical matchup of David against Goliath comes to mind when talking about the Penn field hockey team's annual battle with Maryland. Tonight, the Quakers (5-6) will travel to Maryland to play the No. 5 Terrapins (9-5) at 7:30 p.m. at AstroTurf Facility. Maryland has yet to lose a out-of-league game, and the non-Atlantic Coast Conference matches haven't even been close. Maryland has outscored its non-conference opponents 42-5. Only three non-conference teams have even been able to score against the Terrapins. Maryland's high-octane offense is led by Lynsey McVicker, who has recorded 14 goals and seven assists. Penn has traditionally had trouble with the national powerhouse. The Quakers have lost six straight matches to the Terrapins, including last year's 5-2 defeat. The one common opponent this season is Temple; Penn lost 1-0 in a nail-biter, while Maryland demolished the Owls, 10-0. "If you look at the two teams on paper, we are by far the under-underdogs," Quakers coach Val Cloud said. "We have nothing to lose, so we have to go in there and enjoy the competition and play the best we can. No one is expecting us to win." However, it will be a chance for Penn to test itself against one of the top teams in the nation. "It's an awesome challenge. It's a really great opportunity to play a team like that," Quakers co-captain Michelle Canuso-Bedesem said. "It's definitely going to be a battle." The Penn defense will especially be tested by the Terrapins' offensive onslaught. If the Quakers are to have any chance of victory, the defense and sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Dunn will have to have superb games. "Our defense has to step up and not be reluctant," Cloud said. "They've got to be aggressive and not sit back. If we sit back and allow them to receive, they will do whatever they want." Penn gained confidence with a victory over Cornell this past weekend and will look to build on that against Maryland. With a solid performance against the Terrapins, the Quakers will position themselves for the final stretch of the season. After tonight's match, three out of the remaining four matches will be against Ivy League competition. The Ivy games against Brown, Yale and Princeton will be critical if Penn is to finish well in the league standings. "Everyone really has to play strong," Canuso-Bedesem said. "Everyone has to give everything they've got or just not show up." David beat Goliath, and the Penn underdogs are hoping to do the same to the Terrapins in the Quakers' biggest challenge of the season.