After sweeping both games on their North Carolina road trip, Jessica Fuccello and the Penn women's soccer team will make a short commute this evening to face cross-town rival Temple in Ambler, Pa.
Fuccello, Ivy League Rookie of the Week, put in the deciding goals in both Tobacco Road victories last weekend. Facing an early 2-0 deficit at North Carolina-Greensboro on Friday, the Quakers rallied with three unanswered goals. Fuccello assisted one before heading in the game-winner in the 72nd minute off a Tracy Bienenfeld corner kick for her first collegiate goal.
The freshman forward was responsible for Sunday's only score at East Carolina, giving her five points during the weekend roadtrip.
"We knew she was a goal scorer - she's a natural at that," Penn coach Darren Ambrose said. "Once she got one, she got the monkey off her back."
Fuccello, goalie Cailly Carroll and Penn's eight other freshman have yet to taste defeat. The only blemish on the team's 4-0-1 record remains its opening-match draw with Rice.
More importantly, however, is that the team is playing better soccer.
"We defended pretty well," Ambrose said before highlighting the team's weaker points. "Our defense against the counter-attack is better, but [it's] an area we can always improve. . We'd like to be a little more dangerous in and around the final third."
Meanwhile, Carroll has been solid in net for the Quakers. In her five starts this season, she has allowed only three goals, good for a save percentage of .870.
On the opposite end of the field tonight will be Temple. Since shutting out Bucknell 1-0 in its season opener, Temple has tallied just three more goals. The Owls snapped their five-game losing streak by beating Wagner 1-0 on Sunday, improving to 2-5-0.
The Penn women are 5-4 all-time versus Temple, most recently prevailing in a 2-0 shutout last fall.
Nevertheless, Ambrose and the Red and Blue know there are no guarantees.
"It's nice that we have had some good results," Ambrose said.
"We're playing a team that's much improved over the past year. It's a local rival, and you can't take anything for granted. The girls that played them last year know they had a hard time with them."
In their last meeting, Temple boasted a roster loaded with freshman. With a year's experience under their belts, those Owls will be seeking revenge against a Penn team composed of just four upperclassmen.
Ambrose has stressed the importance of focusing on the basics with his young team.
"We need to take care of the ball and not give it away. When we get our chances, we need to finish them."
The match is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. at Ambler Field.
