Missed opportunities.
Penn men's soccer coach Rudy Fuller chose to describe the Quakers' performance this season in less than flattering terms.
And, with too many missed opportunities, it appears that an Ivy League title and playoff berth are out of reach.
Nonetheless, there are still three more matches left for the Quakers (5-7-2, 2-2 Ivy), and they haven't been mathematically eliminated yet.
"We were 5-2 last year in the conference and almost got a playoff spot," Fuller said. "But at this point now, it's a longshot."
The team's long and improbable climb uphill starts tomorrow against Princeton (4-8-2, 2-2) at Rhodes Field at 5 p.m.
Both Penn and Princeton had trouble getting off the ground to start this season, and both teams have rebounded well. The Tigers are 4-2-2 in their last eight games, while the Quakers have improved on their 1-4-2 start.
Fuller said that he expects the game "to be another tight Ivy League matchup with two teams that need to win."
Although the Quakers have had trouble beating Princeton in the last several years, there is one statistic that is in their favor: The Tigers have been winless on the road this season.
However, the Tigers are led by senior forward Kyle McHugh and his six goals. He's lauded by Fuller as a "tremendous leader on and off the field."
Midfielders Devin Muntz and Matt Care act as the glue that holds together the Tigers' fast, possession-oriented style of play.
Fuller emphasized how evenly-matched and similar the two teams are.
The statistics reflect those similarities to an eerie degree. In the conference, Penn and Princeton are tied for third in both shots and goals per game. They are also ranked the best two teams in producing corner kicks.
Despite being near the top of the conference in several offensive categories, the Quakers allowed three goals last week against Brown.
"When we had a chance to look at the film, we saw it wasn't as bad as the scoreline indicated," Fuller said. "It was about which team was going to capitalize on its chances, and Brown did while we didn't."
It wouldn't be a stretch to call that game a microcosm of Penn's season - a seemingly one-sided game, albeit against a good opponent.
"The difference [from last year to this year] has been the significant upgrade in our schedule," Fuller said.
"We knew going in that we were throwing this group a challenge. Do we wish we had gotten results? Absolutely. Do we feel outclassed? No."
But when tournament time comes around, that will probably serve as little consolation if the Quakers have to watch from home.
