It's one of those sports cliches that makes journalists cringe and editors pull their hair out.
It's a go-to word for coaches and players in post-game interviews and a vaguely-defined cure-all for any team's ills.
And it's exactly the word that Penn senior captain Tracy Bienenfeld used to describe the key to the women's soccer team's victory over Richmond yesterday: "Heart."
But after watching her find the back of the net with just 43 seconds left in the second and final overtime at Rhodes Field, it's hard not to believe her.
Sure, the Quakers limped through the second half and were outplayed by an 0-5 Richmond team. But to have the composure to put one in while tenths of a second tick off the clock may be telling of the team's big game ability.
And the way they performed this weekend, the Quakers figure to play in quite a few big games by the time this season has finished.
On Friday, Penn was given the task of hosting 2005 NCAA Tournament qualifier Hofstra, and like yesterday, came through after a slow start and walked away with a "W."
"We looked like chickens with our heads cut off," coach Darren Ambrose said. "They came out at 150 miles an hour, and we came out at about 25. But once it got less frantic, I thought we were very dangerous."
This sense of calm resulted in a goal for sophomore defender Nicki White - the team's first goal of the season.
While the Quakers may want to be a bit more consistent - they couldn't put together a solid 90-minute stretch this weekend - there is a lot to be said for their ability to remain unfazed and bounce back. Penn showed that it may be able to churn out victories even when it isn't in top form.
This may not be much consolation to the team, which, according to Ambrose, were still "disappointed" with their play. They may have wanted to burn up the stat sheet after the game, but the reality is the Red and Blue has plenty to be proud of after a performance that took guts.
Freshman forward Michelle Drugan played a solid game while battling illness. Freshman goalkeeper Cailly Carroll didn't crack after allowing her first collegiate goal. And, of course, Tracy Bienenfeld stood in and ended the game from just outside of a jam-packed 18-yard box.
Now that's moxie.
"We were able to keep our composure at times when it would have been very easy to lose our heads," Ambrose said.
Penn can take solace in the fact that this "let's-take-care-of-business" mentality is intact while other facets of their game may not all be there.
With just a week to prepare before the season opener, the Quakers would have had the perfect excuse to sputter out of the gates. Bienenfeld's laser beam was the perfect way to cap off a very good opening week - one that may be the precursor to an Ivy League title run.
The Quakers know that the fitness will come and the team's new faces will become more seamlessly integrated into Ambrose's system.
Penn may be taking things one game at a time, but the way things unfolded this weekend, it's hard not to look into the future a little bit.
"Right now, this win is giving us a lot of confidence," White said after the Hofstra game. "If we keep improving in the areas that we need to, we're going to be a tough team to beat."
David Bernstein is a sophomore in the College from Washington, D.C. His e-mail address is davidkb@sas.upenn.edu.
