After dropping the first two games of the season in overtime, Penn men's soccer coach Rudy Fuller looked to his co-captains, senior goalkeeper Matt Haefner and junior defender Erik Hallenbeck, to help turn the Red and Blue's season around.
The Quakers have rebounded to go 2-0-1 in their last three matches.
The Penn captains have provided defensive leadership as the Quakers (2-2-1) have allowed only two goals in the past three games, including two shutouts.
However, Fuller is looking for continued improvement from both his captains as the season progresses.
"Haefner still hasn't hit his groove yet," Fuller said. "He's not at the top of his form, and he knows it, but he's working hard and he's doing all the things he can to sort things out and he's coming along bit by bit.
"Hallenbeck is, I think, in the same boat. I don't think Erik is playing at the top of his game right now, but he's getting better and better with each day."
Fuller feels that Penn's change in results has less to do with the change in formation from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2, and more to do with a greater emphasis on working hard and putting pressure on the ball.
Penn looks to keep its unbeaten streak going as they travel to Philadelphia Soccer 7 rival La Salle on Sunday.
Fuller anticipates the Explorers (2-3-2) and Quakers will play a hard-fought game much like Penn's 1-0 win over Temple.
"Any time you play a Philadelphia team, they're a very hard working, intense team and they're going to do everything they can to get the result," he said.
"We just have to stay on our game," Haefner said. "We have to not let what happened last game [against Temple] in terms of playing down to their level."
Penn's captains will be looked upon even more as the season moves on to propel the rest of the squad.
"They're mirroring our team," Fuller said. "I think that we certainly haven't played our best game yet, and we're working hard each day to get better and better, and I think as the season goes on, we're going to be a better and better team."
