Midseason test faces Cloud's team

Searching for a win to begin the second half of the season, Penn's field hockey team takes on Temple. Two backyard field hockey teams, the Penn Quakers and the Temple Owls, are ready to fight for Philadelphia bragging rights tonight at 7 p.m. on Franklin Field. The Owls (2-12) have rarely been able to play up to the level of their competition so far in their season, so the chances of them taking home the bragging rights seem slim to none. "[Temple] has just been having a rough season so far. In past years, [though] we've had pretty tough games against them," tri-captain Maureen Flynn said. The Owls, winless in the Atlantic 10 (0-2), have not been able to counter many of their opponents' play, including nationally ranked Delaware. Against such teams the Owls have been unable to establish any offensive continuity. Temple has only taken 90 shots on goal while its opponents shot 237 times on goal. In addition, two other options for scoring, penalty corners and penalty strokes, have prevented the Owls from bringing home more than two wins. The Owls have taken 81 corners and zero penalty strokes while their opposition has had 123 corners and three penalty strokes. In short, Temple has struggled in the quest to score. On the other hand, the Owls' goalkeepers, Serene McGrath and April Herman, have outsaved opposing goalies by facing so many extra shots. Temple goalkeepers saved 185 shots on goal while opposing goalkeepers saved 69 shots on goal. Temple also has more defensive saves than their opponents. Although Temple has coped with heartbreak this season, they are not suffering alone. The Quakers (3-5) have not experienced the best of times either. "We've been on a losing streak so far, so we're looking at [Temple] as a game to get some confidence," Flynn said. Penn started the season on a low note, an 0-1 loss to the Villanova Wildcats. Although they redeemed their first defeat with an exciting victory over their first Ivy league opponent, Dartmouth, they have not been consistent with their style of play. "Our coach told us that we are at the half way point in the season," College sophomore Aviva Meerschwam said. "It is time to refocus on what went good and what went wrong. Tomorrow is a game that can go either way. If we stay very focused and do our best we should win," Tomorrow, Penn will play with eight games under its belt. The Quakers hope it can be a springboard for the second half of the season. The past games taught Penn how to win and how to lose. Tomorrow, they must focus and capitalize on the points that earned them the victories. "We're ready to come out and finally play the way we are capable of playing," Flynn said. The Penn-Temple match-up should not be a friendly neighborhood get- together, but Penn's chance to win the city's bragging rights and the opportunity to enter the second half of its season as a team that is ready to focus on what it takes to defeat consistently.