Some coaches may look at a match between Penn and Columbia's women's soccer teams and ask: How do the Quakers plan on stopping the Lions' potent duo of Sophie Reiser and Ashlin Yahr?
But Quakers coach Darren Ambrose looks at it another way: How does Columbia plan on stopping Penn's Sarah Friedman, Molly Weir, Ursula Lopez-Palm and Marin McDermott?
Ambrose is confident that when Columbia (8-2-1, 2-0-0 Ivy) visits Rhodes Field for a pivotal Ivy matchup tonight, his Quakers (6-3-1, 2-0-0) "will be able to control the tempo, play at our pace . and essentially impose ourselves."
Although the two teams' offenses look similar on paper, the way they go about scoring couldn't be more different.
The Red and Blue rely on an efficient, high-percentage offense, while Columbia manufactures goals with its high-volume attack that generates lots of rebounds and easy shots.
Reiser and Yahr have been the biggest beneficiaries. Each has seven goals to go along with six and five assists, respectively. Reiser is first in the Ivy League in total shots and third in points, while Yahr is right behind her in fourth.
In order to counter Columbia's gritty style of play, Ambrose is having his squad focus on maintaining its discipline, especially when the ball enters Penn's half of the field.
"I can't control the formation [the Lions] come out in, I can't control the players they have, I can't control the substitutions they make," he said. "But we're going to focus on ourselves and what we're good at, not them.
"It's not a lack of respect, but that's all I can do."
It will be exhausting enough for Penn to have to keep up with Columbia for 90 minutes tonight. But after a light workout tomorrow, the Quakers will have to steel themselves and face La Salle (5-5-2) on Sunday.
The Explorers' .500 record betrays their challenging schedule and depth. They have four players who have scored at least four goals apiece.
Ambrose expects the "mini-Ivy" game to have the intensity of tonight's match. That said, he doesn't think that his players will suffer a letdown.
"They're experienced," he said. "They've been here before, they know where they're going and they know how to get there."
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