Today the No. 1 Princeton Tigers will be going for a program record 21 straight wins. The Penn women's lacrosse team, however, will try to stop the Tigers from entering the record books.
This year, the Tigers have looked like the defending national champions they are, compiling an average margin of victory of seven goals per game and allowing the lowest number of goals in the nation this year.
"Princeton is the best team in the nation this year," Penn coach Karin Brower said. "They've been beating everyone handily and I just want to see what our girls can do against them."
With the Quakers' leading scorer, sophomore Emily Cochran, out for the season, it is unlikely that Penn will able to match Princeton's potent offensive attack. But, playing the No. 1 team in the nation will give this young Penn squad experience that it can use in games to come.
Penn (7-5, 3-1 Ivy) sits just half a game behind the 3-0 Tigers and 4-0 Dartmouth in the latest Ivy League standings. While beating Princeton may be a challenge for the Quakers, there is no doubt that they will be able to compete with Dartmouth and possibly secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament in May.
This game will mark Brower's third time crossing the Delaware to lead the Quakers against the school where she began her Ivy League coaching career. Brower started as an assistant coach for the Tigers in 1996, after graduating from William and Mary. She left Princeton for Penn in 1998.
While playing the top-ranked team in the nation may seem imposing, the Quakers seem ready to meet the challenge.
"Obviously, you get a little more nervous playing such a national powerhouse," freshman attacker Catherine Wooters said. "However, I think the key to playing a team like Princeton is to go out there with confidence and composure."
In its past three games against Columbia, Penn State and Harvard, Penn has found a rhythm to its attack. This newfound attack has strengthened their defense and allowed the Quakers to get better with each game they play.
While playing such a highly ranked opponent would have fazed the Quakers earlier this season, the Red and Blue should, by now, have enough confidence in themselves to come out and play hard right from the first draw.
"When you're unranked and you play the best team in the nation, you have nothing to lose," Brower said. "They have everything to lose. This should ease the pressure for our young team and allow us to go out there and play our game."
A victory for the Quakers would bring national recognition and an almost sure bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, even with a loss, Penn will remain in third place in the Ivy League with its postseason hopes still very much alive.
