Field Hockey looking for first victory, hosts Ivy foe Harvard

Heading into tomorrow's game, the Penn field hockey team has nothing to lose. Facing a 2-0 Harvard team at 12:30 p.m. on Franklin Field, the Quakers are matched up against an opponent to whom they have dropped each of their past four meetings. A victory this weekend would even the all-time record between the Quakers and the Crimson at 11-11-2. And, more importantly, a win would be a welcome boost for the very youthful Quakers. "It'll be tougher than the past two games [against Villanova and St. Joseph's]," Penn coach Val Cloud said. "Their game is quite similar to ours, and they are a talented group. It will be nice to see a better skilled team." In their first Ivy League matchup of the season, the Quakers are looking to better their 0-2 overall record and begin their Ancient Eight season on a positive note. "They realize that they are young and that the past is the past. They're eager to get to the league opener and that has become our focus now," Cloud said. The Quakers are also looking to finally get a good break after beginning their season with two sudden-death overtime losses. "Sometimes you just want to ask, OWhat do we have to do to get a good break?'" Cloud said. "But at the same time, in this game you have to make your own breaks." The youth of the team has provided strong support at both ends of the field. The sophomore class has provided the bulk of the offense, with Ali Corsi, Mandy Doherty and Kylee Jakobowski scoring four of the team's five goals. On defense, both rookie goalkeepers, Kate Davis and Carrie Wilhelm, have turned in solid performances. "The chemistry couldn't be better this year, and this team is definitely playing up to my expectations," Cloud said. "There isn't a player out on the field who isn't living up to expectations." However, the lack of game experience is still a factor with which the Quakers have to deal. "We've got inexperience, and we make youthful errors that can be costly. But eventually we'll be in a place of enough experience where we'll be able to make those [good] breaks for ourselves," Cloud said. The Crimson, with two solid four-goal wins under their belt, will not be an easy team to defeat. But the Quakers are hungry to record their first victory -- especially against an Ivy rival. "We lost there last year in a tough game. Right now, our attitude is still good, and we'll do the best we can to walk away with a positive result," Cloud said. A victory over a solid Crimson squad would not only give the Quakers a significant Ivy League win, but it could also provide enough of a confidence and momentum boost to become a turning point in Penn's 2000 campaign.

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