There is an old sports adage that the best way to get better is to play against the best competition. For the Penn women's soccer team, it's a lesson it will have to learn the hard way.
The Quakers start their season off against six perennially ranked national opponents: College of Charleston, Texas A&M;, Vanderbilt, Villanova, California and San Francisco.
Despite strong play, the team lost its first two games, to Charleston and No. 5 Texas A&M.;
The team fell, 2-0, to College of Charleston and 3-2 to the strong A&M; squad, holding A&M; scoreless in the second half.
This week, the Quakers will get another chance to play against some of the nation's best, as they take on Vanderbilt today and Villanova on Sunday.
Despite the early losses, senior midfielder Rachelle Snyder is optimistic and ready to face more challenges.
"We got some good things out of a losing situation," she said. "We actually played really well against some of the best competition we see.
"Obviously it's not exactly the results we hoped for. But what we take from it is attitude."
That attitude better be in full force this weekend at Rhodes Field.
"This weekend should be interesting," Snyder said.
Both Vanderbilt and Villanova are top national programs, and Snyder pointed out that "we haven't beat Villanova in the three years I've been" at Penn.
Despite the tall odds, it's far from gloom and doom for the Red and Blue.
This weekend should be another showcase for Penn's talented group of freshmen.
Penn's freshman class, comprised of midfielders Jenna Mitby and Rachel Fletcher, forwards Alysha Hoven and Ashley Wallach, defender Ashley Hull and goalie Jacquelyn McNaughton, was ranked ninth in the region and 62nd nationally according to soccerbuzz.com.
And the buzz on these freshmen is that they're as good as expected.
"Our freshmen are great," Snyder said.
But it's not only the freshmen.
"Other people are stepping in and playing roles that needed to be filled," Snyder added.
"In all the years I've been here, this is the deepest and most talented team we've had so far."
That talent will be tested in the next four games. One thing is for sure, though. Win or lose, the Quakers are only going to get better playing against the best.
