0-3.
No team ever wants to start off a season with that record next to its name.
But that's where the Penn men's soccer team is right now after heading out west and losing 0-1 to No. 7 Cal (2-1-0) on Friday and 0-2 to Stanford (1-1-1) yesterday.
While the Quakers are describing the road trip as the dreaded "learning experience," they are not losing sight of the fact that they played closely two very good teams less than a week after being blown out 2-6 at Seton Hall.
"It was very even against Cal; we had a lot of possession," senior captain Keith Vereb said. "All we needed was one goal and then it would've been overtime and who knows what could have happened."
After Cal's Tyler Barry went near post and scored on a header off a free kick from Andrew Jacobson, the Quakers shaped up. The 1-0 gap never widened, but the Red and Blue couldn't knot it up.
Three good chances from Penn midfielder Alex Grendi couldn't find their way past the Golden Bears' keeper, Stefan Frei, and a 75th minute header by Ryan Porch was also stymied.
In the end, Frei, not the Quakers' ball possession and attack, decided the game.
"Cal's goalie played a spectacular game," Grendi said. "I think he really made the difference for them; we could've gotten two goals and maybe won the game."
Against Stanford yesterday though, Rudy Fuller's squad came out looking lethargic.
"We had heavy legs out there," the coach said. "Two games in three days is tough, and I think we expended a lot of energy playing Cal so close."
Two early first-half goals from the Cardinal stunned the Quakers, who were riding high after Friday's game.
"They scored early, which kind of demoralized us," Grendi said. "We came back in the second half and fought back but it wasn't enough."
Stanford's pressuring play also caused problems for the Quakers. While the Golden Bears tended to hang back while Penn had the ball, the Cardinal went all-out for the length of the field.
"It was a tough transition for us to play two teams with different styles," Grendi said.
In fact, the scoreline may have been even worse than 2-0 had it not been for the strong play of Quakers junior goalkeeper Drew Healy.
After starter Keith Sweetland was rested after picking up a knock against Seton Hall on Monday, Healy saw his first college action ever on Friday against Cal and played well enough to get the start on Sunday.
Against Stanford he made eight saves to keep his teammates in the game.
Healy was not fazed by the sudden call-up to starter.
"As a backup for two years, I had to be ready for action at any time," he said.
His strong play has to have been somewhat of a comfort for Fuller. The coach is still grappling with deciding on a set depth chart in net, where three keepers are competing for position.
But with the defense back in form and the foggy goalie situation clearing up, the Quakers are feeling good about their upcoming match against Hartwick this week.
"We always get excited for getting home in front of our fans," Vereb said. "We're hungry for our first win."
