When a defender appears on a scouting report, you know she means business.
Cornell senior Deirdre Lafferty is that defender.
So she is a threat that the No. 3 Penn women's lacrosse team will be aware of in tomorrow's matchup against the No. 14 Big Red at 1 p.m on Franklin Field. Lafferty has caused 12 turnovers this season, placing her fourth in the nation and first in the Ivy League.
You "know that this is the girl that will back check you or play really good one-on-one," attack Ali Deluca said. "It is just a matter of . recognizing that she's the girl that is playing you."
In addition to being aware of her presence on the field, DeLuca and the other Quakers'offensive players will have to exercise caution when heading to goal. Coach Karin Brower has advised her attackers to protect their sticks on dodges while they are within Lafferty's reach. The good news for the well-balanced Quakers offense is that because of its multiple scoring threats, it is unlikely that Lafferty will be capable of matching up with only one player.
In addition to a strong field defender, the Big Red (5-1, 1-0 Ivy) have a defensive talent guarding the net as well. Junior Kristen Reese is a true athlete in goal. She has tallied three ground balls and five caused turnovers herself this season. In order to put points up on the board, the Quakers (6-0, 1-0) will have to keep the ball out of Reese's stick. Having recently faced another proactive goalie, Penn State's Stephanie Ellis, Penn feels it is well prepared to take on Reese.
"All our attackers need to play our game, keep possession and make start decisions about shooting opportunities so that we score in the best possible situations," senior attack Becca Edwards said.
Fortunately for the Quakers' defense, Cornell's strongest player, senior midfield Jessica Wiegand, is still recovering from an injury. Her absence on the field in the Big Red's 16-9 loss to Loyola (Md.) Wednesday proved how much the team's offense depends on Wiegand to put the ball in the net.
However, she'll return to the field tomorrow, and with 10 goals and four assists on the season, the Red and Blue must shut her down.
In addition to Wiegand, freshman Shannon McHugh is coming off a hat trick against the Terriers. She has nine goals on the season.
"They have a couple freshmen," Brower said. "Hopefully our team defense will play well against them. We're going to have to."
Despite Penn's undefeated Ivy League record last year, the Big Red only fell to the Quakers by one goal in 2008. The Red and Blue had a slow start in that contest, taking eight minutes to get on the board.
"We just need to start a little bit earlier in the game and shove some goals down their throat," DeLuca said.
