F. Hockey tries to forget Big Green

Penn is pleased to get back to work tonight against Lafayette, after a shocking overtime loss to Dartmouth. The Penn field hockey team (2-1) looks to rebound from a devastating 4-3 overtime loss to Dartmouth when it faces Lafayette (2-3) at 7 p.m. tonight on Franklin Field. The Quakers are also seeking to avenge their 1-0 road loss last year to the Leopards. While Lafayette's style of play differs substantially from the finesse game displayed by Dartmouth, Penn's defense still expects to be thoroughly tested. The Quakers must put forth a strong showing tonight to regain some of the confidence they lost Sunday. "We are going to focus on our defensive execution," Penn coach Val Cloud said. "Our defense was very poor both individually and collectively. The defense really generates the attack. We are also going to focus on special situations like free hits? We walked away from the Dartmouth game with two corners. We have played top schools with a less-talented team and gotten more corners than that." Last season, the natural grass of Lafayette's home field thoroughly frustrated the Quakers. The combination of the uneven playing surface and slow pace of play did not fit with Penn's up-beat playing style. But his time, with the matchup on the artificial turf of Franklin Field, it will be the Leopards who must adjust to the lightning quick passes and faster action. "Lafayette is going to be a tough team," Penn defenseman Michele Canuso-Bedesem said. "They don't have quite the skill that Dartmouth has, but they are very aggressive. So it's going to be important for us to match that intensity and play our skill game. "On grass, it is a little different. They are a big-ball team, but they have enough skill where they do have a small passing game, which will probably be emphasized more on the turf." Although three days have already passed since the disappointing loss to the Big Green, the Quakers are not ready to forget Sunday's debacle. Instead, Penn will carry the demons of the Dartmouth loss with them into tonight's game as a reminder. "I don't think the Dartmouth game is a game that will ever be forgotten. It is definitely something that we need to learn from," Canuso-Bedesem said. "Dartmouth did give a great effort, but we let them win that game. That is going to stay with everyone for the rest of the season." The Leopards' style of play is more similar to that of Villanova -- which Penn destroyed 5-0 earlier this season -- than to Dartmouth's. "We need to get back on a winning track and play well together again," Cloud said. "We are capable of putting some points on the board, but we have to create the opportunities for ourselves." Confidence will not return overnight, but the first step toward regaining momentum starts today for the Quakers. Maintaining a lead will be important if the Quakers are to move past the Dartmouth loss. "Tonight, we want to make sure we come out strong and maintain that level the whole game," Canuso-Bedesem said.