W. Lax meets Big Green in top 15 clash

The Quakers are atop the Ivy heap at 2-0, but have not beaten a top 10 team in two tries this new season. Tonight's game against Dartmouth at 6 p.m. on Franklin Field will be the beginning of a three-game stretch that is pivotal in determining the success of the Penn women's lacrosse season. The opponents for the three games are all nationally ranked and, more importantly, are fellow Ivy League members. The games are against- No. 9 Dartmouth, No. 12 Princeton and No. 11 Brown. The trio of contests will be difficult, but it will prove whether the Quakers (3-2, 2-0 Ivy League) are ready to take their game to the next level, as their recent 12th ranking in the IWLCA/Brine poll would indicate. "I do not like to get caught up in all the hype that goes with the ranking, but I do like the excitement that is being generated through the team," Penn coach Anne Sage said. "The next three games are going to be tough, but I think our tough schedule thus far has prepared us." The tough scheduling Sage is referencing consists of previous losses to No. 2 Loyola and No. 7 Temple. While the Quakers were unable to achieve victories in either contest, they gained invaluable experience about how to beat the tougher teams. Against the Greyhounds, the Red and Blue managed to play competitively for the entire first half and were knotted at two entering the second half of play. The Quakers, however, were plagued by poor execution and a ferocious Loyola team that pounced on them in the second half. Penn learned that a game consists of two halves of play, and if they wanted to be a good team they would have to maintain their intensity throughout. Against the Owls, the Quakers were harried by a pressure defense and constantly turned the ball over and did not play with a fluid rhythm on offense. This led to a disastrous loss, 13-5. In their games against Harvard and West Chester, Penn has showed an ability to learn quickly from prior mistakes by winning both games, 10-9 and 15-6, respectively. The game against the Crimson exemplified the Quakers' ability to play tough throughout and hold on to a close victory. The game against the Rams set the stage for the offensive explosion Penn has been waiting for all season, and also provided a showcase for the freshman talent. Freshmen Lee Ann Sechovicz, Therese Kolata and Melissa Rantz all had substantial playing time. Sechovicz had a goal and Kolata chipped in with two assists. Rantz did a solid job as goalkeeper for most of the first half and the last 10 minutes of the second. With the freshmen starting to contribute, Penn becomes a stronger team. With these newfound abilities, Penn is looking forward to challenging undefeated Dartmouth (4-0, 1-0). The Big Green got rolling quickly this season and face Penn at a similar point in the season as last year. In 1996, Penn began their Ivy schedule by defeating Cornell and then upsetting Harvard to open a 2-0 record in the Ivies. This year, Penn has accomplished the exact same feats. In last year's game, Dartmouth defeated the Quakers 10-7 and Penn went on to lose four of its last six games. However, this year the Quakers seek a different outcome for the game and the rest of the year. "This year's team is special, whether it be referring to the friendships among the players or the potential of this team," said Sage. "With the team playing together and our emotions getting higher, I think we are becoming a tougher team to play against."