F. Hockey travels to face No. 6 Penn State

Figure this one out: last year the Penn field hockey team "struggled to score and keep leads," according to senior forward Tara Childs. Penn's record last year was 7-10. This year, Childs again expressed concern over a scoring struggle, but the team is 10-4. How can there be such a drastic overall improvement if the same problem persists? "Teamwork," goalie Sarah Dunn said. "This year, not only is team defense definitely better, but we are also playing more effectively as a team." The backfield has recorded five shutouts this season, but it will be constantly tested as the Quakers head to State College, Pa., to face sixth-ranked Penn State at 7 p.m. Penn midfielder Maureen Flynn said that "the defense will be under pressure from [Penn St.'s] forwards but they should be ready for the challenge." The new-look defense has newcomers at three of the four backfield positions. Former midfielder Jen Murray now starts at left back. Michelle Canuso-Bedesem takes on the pivotal back-center position to make room for Brooke Jenkins, who will start at sweeper against the Nittany Lions. "We needed to focus on fundamentals because we won't get many chances against a team like Penn St.," Quakers senior captain Emily Hansel said. Penn coach Val Cloud knows her team has a chance to clinch second place in the Ivy League, but she refuses to think ahead. "Penn St. is a top 10 team, and even though I have the Yale game in the back of my mind, I want my players to be ready for tomorrow." If Penn is to win, the trio of Tara Childs, Hansel and Flynn had better be ready. The three have accounted for 22 of Penn's 29 goals and nine of 18 assists so far this season. More recently, Childs netted the game winner in a 1-0 shutout of Brown on Parents Weekend. "I need to be taking more shots on goal," said Childs after the Brown game, "but I was able to capitalize on a goal that was completely set up by my teammates." In last year's 3-0 loss to Penn St., the Quakers managed to stay level for the first half, but a defensive lapse resulted in three second-half scores. "[Penn St.'s] execution and decision-making is quick," said Cloud, "and since this is a reach game for us -- we can't miss opportunities." The game being played on turf may prove a factor since "it is more predictable and there is more of a finesse passing game," according to Hansel. Turf or otherwise, Penn broke into the NCAA Division-I rankings this week. The 20th-ranked Quakers have also won five of their last six games, with the loss coming against No. 3 Maryland. "Penn St. is one of the team's biggest games since we traditionally play Penn St. tight," said Hansel, who added, "Ivy games are almost always more important than others."