This season, the women's soccer team has looked good in nonconference play and is tied with Harvard for the Ivy League's best overall record.
Throw all that out the window.
Penn will be at 0-0 again when League play starts against Cornell (4-4-0) at 7 p.m. tonight at Rhodes Field. The Quakers (5-2-1) are searching for their first league championship since sharing it in 2001.
Although last Sunday's 4-0 loss to Villanova slightly dampened the excitement over the Quakers' fast start, coach Darren Ambrose believes the Villanova game taught a "great lesson" on defense and the "adversity from last week" should get his squad refocused on the Ivy campaign.
Of their four losses in conference play last year, three came by only one goal. Ambrose believes the disappointments of last year will give way to more success, but wouldn't make any promises.
"The girls are bitterred and humbled by last season's finish," said Ambrose, "Our first goal is finishing higher than last year. After that, we'll see."
Last year, the Quakers ended seventh in the league. But Penn's opponent, Cornell, did not fare so well either, finishing in last place.
However, there is new talent in Ithaca this year. The Big Red are led by rookies that have jumped right into starting roles - forward Lena Russomagno and midfielder Natalie Zandt. Both have won Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors and have revitalized Cornell's attack. Russomagno leads the league in scoring, with six goals and 14 total points.
While Penn has dominated Cornell in recent years, the Big Red figure to be more competitive in the league this year. Russomagno and Zandt could present some of the same matchup problems against Penn as Villanova's athletic forwards did last week.
However, the Cornell defense is porous, allowing 2.12 goals per game, and Cornell still has not won a game on the road this season, weighed down by an 0-4 mark away from Ithaca.
So tonight's game could be a great way for the Quakers to get back on track and prepare for a run at the Ivy crown.
After taking on the Big Red at home, Penn gets a short break from conference play and will travel to Lawrenceville, N.J., to take on Rider Broncs on Sunday at 1 p.m.
