For most of this season, Penn field hockey coach Val Cloud spoke about the learning curve associated with her young team.
Seven losses and an upset win over Harvard later, she's singing a different tune.
"They're not young anymore," she said. "It's halfway through our season."
The Quakers (2-7, 1-1 Ivy) visit Hanover, N.H., on Saturday to face a Dartmouth squad that didn't score until its fifth game of 2008.
With both schools part of a four-way tie for third in the Ancient Eight, this game will have key conference standings implications.
The Big Green have struggled this year, posting a minus-2.11 scoring margin average - worst in the league. Only sophomore Rebecca Sobel and freshman Kelly Hood have scored more than one goal.
Penn goalkeeper Alanna Butera has put up decent numbers while being tested extensively. She has an Ivy-high 58 saves, but her goals against average and save percentage are a more pedestrian 2.11 and .753, respectively.
Cloud has been watching tapes of Dartmouth, but not much stood out. The Big Green do some lifting - where the ball leaves the ground - but she said it seems rather ineffective.
They also have an Astroturf field, which will allow for very fast and predictable ball movement and a nice relief from the ups and downs of Franklin Field's SprintTurf.
Some more relief for the Quakers? The crisp fall climate. As coach Val Cloud said: "This is Field Hockey weather."
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