With the start of the Ivy League season just two days away, the Penn women's soccer team is poised to make a run at the Ancient Eight title.
The Quakers have yet to lose a game in 2003 and currently boast a record of 3-0-2, which includes wins over Lafayette, Seton Hall and Philadelphia Soccer 7 rival La Salle.
The Red and Blue have found the back of the net 10 times this year, while allowing only five goals.
While these stats and figures speak to the ability of the Penn women's soccer team, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that one player has basically carried the Quakers offensively to their early season success.
A silky smooth forward appropriately known as "Franchise" within soccer circles -- or more commonly as Penn junior Katy Cross -- has shouldered the majority of Penn's offensive duties for the past three seasons.
Cross has scored half of Penn's goals this season. She recently shattered the all-time scoring record and all-time goals record for the Quakers in just the third game of her junior season.
The previous records were held by Andrea Callaghan at 68 points and 28 goals, respectively.
Even more remarkable is the fact that Cross broke the record in her 39th game for Penn. It took Callaghan 69 games to amass those numbers.
Penn coach Darren Ambrose certainly recognizes Cross' ability.
"She's probably the most talented forward the program has ever seen," Ambrose said last week. "She has all the qualities that a good forward has -- she's technical, she's fast, she understands the tactical side of it, she understands the finishing side."
Finishing has definitely become Cross' specialty in her time at Penn.
In her freshman season for the Quakers, Cross led the Ivy League in scoring with 12 goals. The following year, she broke the Penn record for goals in a season by scoring 14.
She also broke the Penn record for points in a season during her freshman year by tallying 34. The previous record stood at 26 points.
Clearly Cross is the Quakers' most valuable asset. Her success has garnered national recognition and will undoubtedly draw the attention of the Ivy League's best defenders.
But as the Ancient Eight season kicks off Saturday, the Quakers must not rely solely on Cross to score.
Cross' supporting cast has certainly proven that it has what it takes to finish scoring opportunities.
In 2001, then-freshman Rachelle Snyder burst onto the scene as Penn's second-leading scorer with 10 goals and three assists.
Currently, only two other Penn players have scored this season besides Cross and Snyder. Junior Lydia Bojcun has scored twice and sophomore Carolyn Cross found the back of the net once.
The Quakers are in a tough spot.
Right now things are going great as Cross dominates opposing teams, scoring goals almost at will. But what if the "Franchise" gets hurt or another team's defense is able to mark her out of the game?
Who will step up for the Quakers and take advantage of the opportunity to stand in the offensive limelight?
Snyder stood out as an offensive leader her freshman year, but played in Cross' shadow last year. Carolyn Cross made a significant contribution last year as a freshman, but was never asked to assume the role of Penn's main offensive weapon.
Katy Cross has always been there for Penn.
How Penn would fare without its offensive leader remains to be seen. But having shown their offensive prowess in supporting roles, it seems more than likely that the Quakers will rise to the challenge if Cross meets a defense she can't dominate.
But honestly, is there an Ivy League team out there that has a defense Cross can't handle?
