The Quakers have struggled against Princeton, but with Penn riding an eight-game win streak, perhaps the Tigers aren't so sure of themselves anymore.
"Are we where we wanted to be right now? Maybe not," Princeton coach Chris Sailer said. "But we have the chance to control where we go from here on out. That's all you can really ask for at this point."
Either way, No. 3 Penn (11-1, 5-0 Ivy) faces a tall task in taking down No. 15 Princeton (6-4, 2-1) tonight, a team the Quakers haven't beat in 14 years.
Also on the line at Franklin Field is at least a share in the Ivy League title, another feat the Quakers are looking to accomplish for the first time since 1982.
On the heels of its first victory in 16 years against last year's national runner-up in Dartmouth, the Red and Blue have a chance to rewrite history yet again. With their only loss of the season coming at the hands of national champion No. 1 Northwestern on the road, the Quakers are more confident than ever before in their ability to knock off their New Jersey rivals.
"I feel like the whole season has led up to this game," senior attacker Chrissy Muller said. "You couldn't ask for a better buildup, and this time, we really have the confidence factor going in knowing that we're the better team."
When the two teams squared off last season at Princeton, Penn controlled much of the game but came up one goal short in a demoralizing 8-7 loss.
Coach Karin Brower felt Penn was the better team that day.
"The kids played really hard," she said. "It was a heartbreaker; I think we were more athletic and should have won the game."
Brower emphasized that for Quakers, the key to avenging last season's crushing defeat will be to hit the ground running.
"I think we can beat this team," she said. "We just have to play that way."
That will be easier said than done, as the Tigers are coming off some of their most inspired play of the season as well.
Last Saturday, Princeton tore apart Harvard to an even greater extent than Penn did, routing the Crimson 19-5.
Nonetheless, the Tigers have struggled more than usual at times throughout the season, especially when they faltered at Yale - the only blemish on their Ivy League record.
In addition, Princeton fell to Penn State and needed two overtimes to knock off Johns Hopkins, teams that the Quakers dominated on the road.
Princeton's defense, anchored by freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Perrelle, has been its strong point this season, yielding only 8.28 goals per game.
In light of that talented backfield, Brower noted that Penn will have to avoid turnovers.
"They have a good trap and a good defense," she said. "We have to take care of the ball."
Both teams are fully aware of the magnitude of tonight's showdown, and have been looking forward to it for quite some time.
"It's probably the most important game I'll ever play," Muller said. "The fact that it's a rivalry makes it that much better."
