Penn senior Natalie Capuano leads the women's soccer team with an impressive three goals in four matches on the young season.
But even more impressive is a Georgetown defense that has allowed a total of two goals in six games - which makes Capuano's individual scoring average more than double that of the Hoyas' opponents.
The Quakers will square off against the Hoyas in Washington, D.C., on Sunday after a road date with Richmond tonight.
Despite Georgetown's superb defensive numbers, Capuano, for one, is not intimidated.
"We're not really concerned about their stats," she said. "We're just going to keep doing what we're doing . The only way we're going to get better is if we play teams of a really high caliber."
Two Big East teams, Pittsburgh and Villanova, have already dispatched the Quakers this season, and Penn's opponents this weekend have a combined 10-2-1 record.
Penn coach Darren Ambrose believes that Georgetown is "much better" than Pitt, but he pointed out that the Hoyas' impressive statistics may be magnified by their relatively easy schedule.
"A lot of it is also tied into some of the competition that you play in," Ambrose said. "We're going to create chances. We just have to finish them."
The Hoyas are no slackers on offense, either, having scored 17 goals and outshot their opponents, 107-33. But executing the defensive gameplan is nothing new to an effective veteran Penn back line.
"We look at the teams, find out their strengths, and adjust in the ways we need to," senior defender Ellen Gregory said. "But generally . our defense has always been pretty solid."
Before the Quakers can test their progress against Georgetown, they will have to face a Richmond team that has only one loss on the season and has worn down its opponents late in games.
The Spiders have outscored their opponents, 6-2, in the second half with only an even 4-4 goal spread in the first, so Penn will have to be sure to play for all 90 minutes.
Ambrose said that "playing longer" is a primary goal regardless of the opponent and that using reserves off a deep bench will help Penn to maintain a high level of play.
But that depth is hurt somewhat as the Quakers continue to battle injury problems. Junior forward Jessica Fuccello's status has not changed as she rehabs an ankle injury, but Ambrose said junior Jess Rothenheber has begun training with the team and should return soon from hamstring and lower back ailments.
"We have the injuries, and everyone knows it, but all that means to me is that we have to play sometimes a little differently and play to the strengths of the kids," Ambrose said.
Meanwhile, the banged-up Quakers have gotten a longer look at less experienced players, while others such as Capuano, senior Molly Weir and sophomore Sarah Friedman have filled the void nicely.
Although this weekend will likely be Penn's toughest so far, everyone agrees that it is important to measure up against stiff competition before Ivy League play next week.
"It's all the things that we want and need to be tested before we get into the league," Ambrose said. "And that's why we scheduled it this way two years ago."
