After starting its Ivy League season with a big win over Harvard, the Penn men's lacrosse team has begun to falter.
The Quakers (5-4, 1-3 Ivy) have dropped three straight to Ancient Eight competition and with games coming up against Yale and Brown, more wins may be hard to come by.
"We've had a tough last three games," sophomore Zandy Reich said. "We've been coming out a little flat and got down early. We couldn't come back from that."
The experienced seniors will have to lead their younger teammates on the field in order to beat the Ivy League teams.
Senior co-captains Jake Martin and Alex Kopicki are second and fourth in points and provide leadership and motivation on the field.
Additionally, senior goalie Mark Gannon has stepped up this year for the Quakers. Gannon only played in four games last season but has filled the large shoes of last season's most outstanding player Ryan Kelly, who did not return to Penn to play his senior year. Gannon has started all nine games this season, logging nearly 500 minutes between the pipes. He has recorded 82 saves and has a 10.01 goals-against-average.
Junior Will Phillips leads the Red and Blue with 22 points. The midfielder from Annapolis, Md., has contributed 12 goals and 10 assists.
Though the upperclassmen may bring experience to the field, the younger players are not just sitting back and letting their elders do all of the work.
Freshman James Riordan has 15 points this season and was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week on March 25 after his three goals against Harvard sparked a Penn comeback.
Riordan is not the only freshman to stand out for the Quakers. The entire second line of midfielders is composed of freshmen and they have proven that they are ready to handle the intense level of competition in the Ivy League.
The older players are very impressed with their young teammates' play so far this year.
"It's tough to be a freshman and have so much expected of you," Martin said. "It's a lot of pressure, but they can really handle it."
Only two Ivy League and two local non-conference games remain in those freshmen's rookie campaigns. This weekend, Penn will travel to Providence to take on a struggling Brown team. The Bears are 0-1 in Ivy League play.
The other Ancient Eight game is the Quakers' last contest of the season when they will take on Yale. The Elis trounced Penn last season, 11-5, and are 1-2 in league play. Last week, Yale freshman midfielder Dan Kallaugher was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week for his play in the Elis' game against Lehigh.
Prior to the Yale game, the Quakers will face off against Pennsylvania rivals Lehigh and Villanova.
The Engineers fell in their last game at Yale and the Wildcats hold a 7-2 record.
None of the Quakers' upcoming games will be easy to win, and Penn will have to step up their game particularly on the offensive end to finish the season with a winning record.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.