With 24 athletes on this year's squad, every men's soccer player will have to fight for a place on the field.
But no one needs it more than Drew Healy. Like goalkeepers in many college sports, Healy - who's never played in a game before - is a victim of circumstance.
The junior was a backup to Dan Cepero during his first two seasons. Now he's fighting to win the job for the first time. If he loses it - to sophomore Kevin Sweetland or freshman Ben Berg - he may not get another good shot.
Slip up now, and Healy may never play for Penn.
Healy recognizes the situation but keeps a level head about it.
"I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself, to play to the best of my ability," he said on Monday. "The other guys are here to push me, just like I'm here to push them."
Ironically, Healy may have a small but substantial edge over his younger competitors because of his experience starting games. This summer, Healy played a large share of the minutes between the pipes for the Professional Development League's Delaware Dynasty.
"It was the first time in a few years that I was able to step into a team and make it my own," he said.
"People were putting money into the team, and paying money for it . I hadn't played in something like that before."
The rare chance to start in goal intensified his desire for the Penn job.
"I know what it's like," he said. "It's just motivated me even more."
But that's just one of the variables that Quakers coach Rudy Fuller will factor into his decision.
While Fuller says he had confidence in Healy even while he was backing up Cepero, there seems to be a real chance that Sweetland or Berg will steal Healy's thunder.
"Sweetland, from last year to this year, is night and day, the way he's settled into the college game," Fuller said.
"And I've been very surprised with Ben Berg. Ben came in extremely fit, and he's playing beyond his years right now."
For now, it's camaraderie and friendly competition all around. But in the coming days, a winner will likely emerge. The other two would probably be reduced to the role of spectator when the season gets going.
Healy can only play hard and hope he doesn't lose out on the job he's been aiming at for two years.
"It would be disappointing," he said. "Anyone who's left out of the team would be disappointed.
"Everyone knows they could step in and do well . We all know we're really good keepers."
But Healy has learned a cruel reality during his career at Penn: Being a good keeper isn't a guarantee that you will be able to play.
