Following a weekend that included a demoralizing loss to Dartmouth and likely the end of its Ivy League title hopes, the Penn women's soccer team will have an ideal chance to rebound with a midweek game against cross-town rival Villanova.
The Quakers (6-3-3, 1-2-1 Ivy) will meet the Wildcats (10-5-1) at 3 p.m. today in Villanova Stadium -- a game that will give them the opportunity to put the disappointing weekend in the past.
"We're going in there with a positive outlook, we're going to try to have a good time, play like we know how to play and leave what happened in the past in the past where it belongs," senior captain Heather Issing said.
The Quakers' loss to Dartmouth left them frustrated, as one of the main goals for their season -- winning the Ivy League -- is now probably out of reach. As a result, the players held several meetings during the past three days in an attempt to recapture their competitiveness and bond as a team.
"We had to get a lot of stuff off our chests, we talked through some things," Issing said. "There was a general agreement that shit happens, but you got to move on."
After re-examining the Dartmouth game, the Quakers realize that much of their frustration stemmed from losing a chance to finish first -- not a badly played game.
"Looking back on Dartmouth, watching the game on tape, the second half we created about six chances -- we didn't play poorly, we just didn't take advantage of the opportunities we had," Penn coach Darren Ambrose said.
In practice the past two days, the Quakers did nothing but full-field scrimmages, opting to concentrate on their overall play rather than on certain techniques or tactics.
"Frankly, we have looked fantastic. These have probably been two of the most productive, energetic practices we have had in a while," Ambrose said.
Villanova is currently ranked four spots ahead of No. 10 Penn in the regional poll. A victory would go a long way toward boosting both Penn's psyche and its chances of going to the NCAA tournament -- to gain a berth the Quakers think they need to be ranked at least fifth regionally.
"It's just a question of going out, playing as hard as we can, playing for each other -- and with that good things happen," Ambrose said.
Issing, a leader for the Quakers both on and off the field, did not practice today due to a foot injury. However, she received a cortisone shot and is expected to play tomorrow, but will still be monitored closely.
Penn looks to use the highly regarded Wildcats as a measuring stick to see how much it needs to improve, as well as indulging in a little potential revenge.
"We've got a little bit of a score to settle with Villanova in that they beat us in the NCAA tournament two years ago," Ambrose said. "It's a competitive game, it's an opportunity for us to test ourselves again, to step out and put the last game behind us and go out and play well."
