Although Princeton may be Penn's traditional athletic rival, the game which matters most to the Penn women's soccer team is increasingly becoming Dartmouth. And after a thorough 3-2 win over Loyola on Wednesday, this year's clash against the Big Green could not have come at a more important time -- tomorrow at Rhodes Field.
"I think it's a perfect time for us to be playing them," Penn senior defender Heather Issing said. "It's time to make a statement in the region, a statement in the league."
Dartmouth (6-5-1, 3-0 Ivy) has beaten the Quakers (6-2-3, 1-1-1), 2-1, each of the last two times the teams have met. Last year in Hanover, N.H., the result effectively shut Penn out out of the NCAA College Cup; in 2001, the Red and Blue overcame the loss at home and won the Ivy League championship.
Both matches are still fresh in Issing's mind.
"I just hope the older players can translate to the younger players how much this game means," she said. "A lot of us who were there in 2001 have so much to settle with them -- especially at a home game."
Although junior midfielder Lydia Bojcun was not here in 2001 -- having transferred from North Carolina State last year -- she also understands the importance of this rivalry.
"I'd say it's at the top of our list along with Princeton and Harvard," she said. And although she quickly added that "every game is pretty difficult," she admitted that tomorrow is "going to be a harder game than we've had this season yet."
Penn coach Darren Ambrose isn't under any illusions about what the Big Green will be bringing to Rhodes Field, either.
"They head in here, they've always got a lot of confidence," he said. "They are an attacking team, very organized, very disciplined."
Ambrose singled out Big Green forwards Lea Kiefer -- a graduate of nearby Germantown Academy -- and Christina Ferraris as players to watch, especially due to their speed.
"We know [Kiefer's] a good player -- she's fast, she scores a lot of goals," Ambrose said. "Ferraris up front is also very fast, a very good player."
The Quakers may receive a boost from the stands tomorrow afternoon, as students participating in "The Line" for men's basketball tickets at the Palestra are being encouraged to head to Rhodes Field as part of the day-long event.
"Having a huge crowd pumps me up and the rest of the girls feel the same way," Bojcun said. "It should be exciting, especially if we get off to a good start and all the fans are really into the game."
