Sports Update | W. Lax stuck in fourth gear

Updated: May 4, 12:30 a.m.

The seeds are out, the tournament is about to start, and it looks like Penn dodged a bullet while still not grabbing the golden apple.

Last night the NCAA announced the bracket for the 2009 Women's Lacrosse Tournament, and the Quakers (13-2, 7-0 Ivy) received the fourth seed. The team will host Fairfield (17-2) Sunday in the first round, with the time to be announced later this week. Northwestern (19-0) grabbed the tournament's top overall seed, while Maryland (19-0) landed the No. 2.

Coming into the selection show last night, Penn, North Carolina (13-4) and Duke (14-5) were battling out for the No. 3 seed behind the two undefeated teams. Penn was ranked third in the coaches poll last week, but an upset to No. 13 Stanford Saturday doomed the Quakers. In fact, coach Karin Brower thought the 8-6 loss to the Cardinal might drop Penn all the way to the five seed.

"I honestly thought we might not even get the four," the ninth-year coach said. "So I was pleasantly surprised at" getting the No. 4 seed.

Although they were one of just two two-loss teams in America (coincidentally Fairfield is the other), Penn could not overcome four-loss North Carolina's top-ranked strength of schedule (the Quakers' was 13), as the Tar Heels received the third seed. Ironically, Penn beat UNC, 11-2, back in March.

"I guess when it comes down to it, it's all strength of schedule," junior midfield Ali DeLuca said of the head-to-head not deciding the seed. "I'm a little surprised but at the same time understand where [the Selection Committee is] coming from."

The good news for the Quakers, is that a four seed guarantees that the first two rounds will be played at home, starting with the Fairfield match. But the bad news might be more important.

If the Quakers beat the Stags - who are in their first tournament ever - the Red and Blue will be rewarded with a matchup with either the Blue Devils, who got the five seed, or unseeded Virginia, who was ranked 10th in the last coaches poll. (The NCAA only seeds the top-eight teams of the 16-team tournament; the other eight teams are assigned draws based on geography.)

"The only thing we're a little disappointed in is that we'd have to face the winner of Duke and UVA in the second round," DeLuca said. "Both teams are very good and in any given day can beat any team. That's the one thing we're going to look forward to and really need to prepare for."

"They're two amazing teams," Brower added about the ACC squads.

And not to get too ahead of themselves, but the Quakers realize that if they want to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the National Championship May 24 in Towson, Md., there's one team out there they're going to have to face in the Final Four.

"The road to the National Championship is through Northwestern; there's no question," Brower said. "You're going to have to see them sooner or later."

Penn has lost in each of the last two NCAAs to Northwestern. In 2007 it lost, 12-2, at Franklin Field in the Final Four as the four seed. Then last year, the Wildcats avenged a regular season loss by beating the Quakers, 10-6, in the NCAA Final, which also was at Towson. In addition, nine days ago Penn lost in Evanston, Ill., 11-9. The Wildcats, meanwhile, will be looking for their fifth-straight national title this May.

But regardless of receiving potentially an unforgiving draw, this is ironically right where the Quakers want to be.

"It's definitely hard to beat a team twice in one season," DeLuca said. "We're very good at being the underdog; in fact I think we play better as the underdog."

To see a full NCAA bracket, click here

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