Well, the hard part is over now.
The No. 6 Penn women's lacrosse team upset its chief Ivy rival in No. 2 Princeton to clinch at least a share of its second-consecutive Ivy title.
All that's left for the Quakers is beating middling Brown tomorrow at Franklin Field to win the regular-season championship outright.
Recent history - and talent - favor the Red and Blue (11-1, 6-0 Ivy). Over the past four years, they've outscored the Bears, 52-27, and have won every game.
And while Brown (5-7, 2-3) is stumbling into Philadelphia, having lost its last two games to Cornell and Yale by a combined 29-13 margin, Penn would still do well to beware.
The Bears bared some teeth earlier in the season against tough opposition: They actually led 6-4 at the half away against No. 11 North Carolina before eventually falling 12-8. Brown also put in respectable showings against solid Hofstra and Harvard squads, losing by just a goal to each of them.
In order to avoid any close calls or catastrophic upsets, the Quakers will have to devote equal attention to offense and defense. Brown is not particularly strong in any one aspect of the game; rather, whatever strength the Bears have lies in their balance.
With Lauren Vitkus (21 goals, eight assists) and Jesse Nunn (22 goals, two assists) leading the attack, and Paris Waterman (20 ground balls, 13 caused turnovers) and Noelle DiGioia (24 and 12) on defense, Brown can dish it out just as well as they can take it.
The Bears' major weakness, though, is in the net. Senior goalkeeper Melissa King may bring leadership to the team, but she also brings a goals against average of 9.90 and save percentage of .387. However, the goals against is significantly better than her 2006-07 one of 12.50.
By comparison, Penn's Sarah Waxman has posted marks of 6.23 and .500, both of which put her in the top 20 in the nation. On top of that, she hasn't allowed more than 10 goals in a game all season.
In front of her is a Penn team capable of winning any style of game. But most importantly, the Red and Blue know what it takes to win an Ivy title.
Last season, the Quakers travelled to Brown in the same situation they are now: Win and take the league title outright.
And they showed no signs of complacency in pounding Brown, 12-4.
Anything short of another convincing victory may disappoint the Quakers or rattle their confidence.
That's the last thing they want, as No. 1 Northwestern - the team that beat Penn, 12-2, in last year's Final Four - is next up on the schedule.
