When the Penn men's soccer team visits Loyola today, the Quakers will find both themselves and the Greyhounds in a much different situation than when they met at Rhodes Field last year.
The Quakers' 2003 season was already in danger of falling apart, after a 1-2 start accompanied by a variety of injuries and off-the-field issues. After difficult losses to Maryland and Maryland-Baltimore County, Loyola came into the game at 3-2-1 and was looking to springboard itself into league competition with a successful result against the Red and Blue.
The teams played to a 2-2, double-overtime tie, and both teams were able to walk away with some degree of success and a number of kinks still to work out.
But what a difference a year makes.
The Greyhounds (3-4-0) limp into today's game having lost three of their last four, including a 9-0 trouncing by No. 14 Maryland on Sept. 15.
"We think Loyola is a good team. They have got a lot of dangerous guys," Penn coach Rudy Fuller said. "They're young, but they're talented. And even though they've dropped a few games, they are a solid team all over the field."
Meanwhile, Penn (4-2-0) rolls into Alumnae Field having captured three straight victories and four of five. The Red and Blue are looking to pick up even more steam as they follow Loyola with three straight crucial Ivy League contests.
Traditionally, Loyola is difficult to beat at Alumnae Field -- the Greyhounds only lost one game there all last season. But this year, the Greyhounds have already lost two games in their home stadium.
The Quakers have already had experience in difficult environments this season. Earlier this month, they ventured into the unfriendly confines of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Engelmann Field during their bid to win the Coca-Cola Panther Invitational. Penn outplayed a tough Panthers team for much of regulation, but Wisconsin-Milwaukee tied the game, 1-1, with a late goal. The Red and Blue eventually succumbed to the Panthers, 2-1, in overtime.
The Red and Blue will look to begin the game with a sense of energy, after coasting through the opening minutes of every contest so far this season. Habitually, the Quakers have come alive halfway through the first frame, but Fuller wants to see his team come out firing, not loafing.
"We want to come in and get off to a better start," he said. "We haven't been very happy with how we've come out at the opening whistle. It's taken us a little while to get into each and every game we've played, and we want to sort that out for all the games on our schedule."
The Quakers not only must contend with their issues on the field today, but also with the added stress presented by their first mid-week game of the season.
"A mid-week game is a lot tougher because people have class and they are in the middle of work," Penn senior Stephen Kroculick said. "On the weekend they have more time to focus on just the game."
