When the Penn women's soccer team travels to California this weekend, for some of its players, it won't be that far from home.
The Quakers boast six players who hail from the Golden State, and this weekend will be a homecoming of sorts for them.
For the rest of the Quakers, this weekend will be a test of how well they can play.
Penn knew from the beginning of the season that the first six games would be the most challenging. The Quakers currently stand at 1-3-0 with some tough losses and one hard-fought win.
All of the players have to be hoping that California will bring more than just sunshine, it will bring success as well.
The Quakers will take on No. 14 California (4-1-1) today and San Francisco (3-2-2) on Sunday.
Both games will be a test. USF is having its best season in recent memory, while California is a national powerhouse.
Penn knows the players it has to focus on.
Cal features star Liz Eisenberg, who already has five goals and 10 points this season. The San Raphel, Calif., native is coming off a four-goal weekend on the road against Colgate and San Jose State. For her efforts, Eisenberg was awarded with Pac-10 and Soccer America Player of the Week honors.
San Francisco is led by junior midfielder Stephanie Gray, who has two goals and three assists in the last three games. Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Beall has already logged two shutouts on the season, and has tallied nine on her career.
Six Penn players -- Katy Cross of Claremont, Jennifer Price of Pacific Palisades, Rachelle Snyder of San Diego, Megan Boys of Ventura, Alysha Hoven of Camarillo and Jacquelyn McNaughton who hails from El Macero -- will return to their home state this weekend.
Katy Cross, an honorable All-America mention by Soccerbuzz.com, will once again lead the Red and Blue. Cross, regarded as the most heralded Penn women's soccer player in the program's 12-year history, will be more than ready for the challenge.
The Quakers have already faced tough opponents. They pushed a team they hadn't beaten in four years, Villanova, into a double overtime game. Penn also defeated ever dangerous Vanderbilt last weekend in a 3-0 shutout.
This weekend will mark the conclusion of the most challenging part of the Quakers' non-conference schedule.
