The Penn field hockey team knows exactly how Lafayette feels.
Entering their fourth game of the season, the Leopards find themselves in the same position as the Quakers (1-3, 1-0 Ivy) were less than a week ago - with an 0-3 record.
But just as Penn notched its first win of the season in its fourth game, coach Val Cloud isn't taking anything for granted tonight when the two teams face off in Easton, Pa.
"If I hadn't won a game, I'd be trying my darnedest to get that first win," Cloud said. "It's not a good feeling and not a good situation to be in."
Midfielder Nyssa Liebermann understands how Lafayette is approaching the game.
"They definitely have nothing to lose, so it's a different way of facing a game, they're facing a different challenge," Liebermann said.
Last season, the Quakers shut out the Leaopards 2-0. Overall, Penn is 15-11-6 against the team.
With Lafayette's goal for the game clear and Penn looking to forget its slow start to the season, tonight's contest will simply come down to who wants it more.
Lafayette coach Ann Gold, the Patriot League's winningest field hockey coach with 292 career wins, thinks her team's difficult schedule has prepared it for the game.
"You learn so much more through playing tough teams than you would just playing against each other in practice," Gold said. "So we're definitely eager for that first win."
After going 0-5 in the Patriot League last year, Lafayette has fallen this season to Rutgers and Cornell, and most recently dropped a 3-1 decision to Syracuse, which the Quakers also fell to - 1-0 in their first contest of the season.
According to Liebermann, tonight's game also has big implications for Penn.
"We're very hungry for this win because we want to keep the momentum going," she said.
The Quakers captured their first win of the season and also their first of the Ivy League by defeating Harvard 2-0 Saturday.
And for her one goal and one assist during the win, junior midfielder Meghan Rose was named to the Ivy League honor roll for the week.
And for the second week in a row, the Quakers yesterday received votes in the STX/NFHCA Division 1 Coaches' Poll, but not enough to earn a top-20 ranking.
For this game, teamwork will help put points on the board for both teams, as neither boasts a break-out player.
"We're really a solidly balanced team," Gold said. "Everyone gives an all-out effort."
Cloud has a similar agenda for the game.
"I'm hoping to see more team play from us and better passing in the midfield especially," Cloud said. "We'll be working on the things we need to improve on in this game because we won't be under so much pressure."
And by pressure, Cloud means the game won't be as intense as the ones against now No. 6 Ohio State and Syracuse.
This is reason enough for Cloud to believe it's essential to come out victorious.
"For our own confidence builder, going into Cornell next, it's a must-win."
