W. Lax looks for quick start to stun the Big Red

Penn coach Karin Brower and the women's lacrosse team have employed a simple formula: play at home and win. So when Cornell comes to town on Saturday, the red-hot Quakers - who have yet to lose in Philadelphia this season - will try to take full advantage of Franklin Field's comforts while they still can.

Penn's game against the defending Ivy League co-champion Big Red (2-4, 1-0) will mark the end to the Red and Blue's three game home-stand, in which they have handily defeated Delaware and Yale. But after Saturday, No. 16 Penn (4-1, 1-0 Ivy) won't play another game at home until April 14.

While the Quakers have started the season off on a high note, Cornell has proven to be a very tough opponent for Penn over the past few years.

In fact, the Big Red has prevailed in the teams' last two meetings, while Penn has performed below its standards.

According to coach Karin Brower, the key to a win on Saturday will be to follow through on the very simple goal of "playing better."

"We haven't played very well the past two years," she said. "Cornell plays well against us, so we have a lot to prove on Saturday."

Senior Chrissy Muller, whose five goals last week earned her a spot on this week's Ivy League honor roll, echoed her coach's sentiments, blaming the last two losses to Cornell on Penn's lack of energy in the beginning of the games.

"Last year, we came out really flat," she said. "On Saturday when we come out we're going to have to be very aggressive, and almost vengeful . we're better than them this year, and we have to take what's ours."

Fortunately for the Quakers, Cornell has experienced a slow start to its season, dropping a number of close contests by failing to close games.

The Big Red surrendered a 9-5 lead at halftime in its most recent game against Denver, as the Pioneers netted 12 goals in the second half to earn the victory.

Cornell coach Jenny Graap has recently intensified the Big Red's practices, stressing hard work as the way to overcome the early season woes.

Graap told the Cornell Daily Sun last week that the team needs to start "demanding more from each other," adding that the players have "been working on getting grittier [and] tougher."

Nonetheless, Cornell has continued to thrive in the Ivy League, as it defeated Columbia in its Ivy League season opener.

The Big Red is led by junior Courtney Farrell, who was recognized in the preseason as one of the top 34 candidates for the National Player of the Year Award.

In the game against Denver, she recorded five assists - one shy of her own school record, while sophomore Jessica Wiegand scored three goals.

Still, the Quakers are not all that concerned about their opponents.

"We're kind of just focusing on ourselves right now," Muller said.

And so far, their approach has worked quite well, with the Quakers' recent performances, including a win over Yale in their Ivy League opener, putting them in prime position to make a run for the league title.

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