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(02/11/94 10:00am)
Pennsylvania gymnastics -- they just keep going and going. When the Quakers hosted crosstown-rival Temple last Thursday night, they expected a tough meet. They even thought they had a chance at winning it. It never even crossed their minds that they could set the school record for the second meet in a row. But they could, and they did. Penn (1-2) displayed a balanced attack against the Owls (3-2), beating them 183.8-180.5, shattering its own school record set last weekend at Yale, in the process. "It was an absolutely great meet," Penn senior co-captain Mary Pedersen said. "We're progressing, and our scores are going up." There is a lot of history between these two squads. Temple coach Ken Anderson and his Penn counterpart Tom Kovic have been friends since they competed against each other in high school. The two coaches tied for first place on the vault in their first-ever collegiate competition. That long relationship between the coaches tends to soften the rivalry a bit. "Tom Kovic and I are both gymnasts from Long Island," Anderson said. "Tom ended up as a freshman at Temple the same year that I started at Southern Connecticut. The first meet of the season was Temple at Southern Connecticut. We both performed pike Tsukahara vaults for the first time in our careers, and both landed them with a 9.25. We tied for first place, and we've been good friends ever since." The most recent meeting in the ongoing contest was two weeks ago at the George Washington Invitational. Then the Owls emerged victorious, finishing ahead of Penn by 1.2 points. But this time the meet was at Hutchinson Gym, on the Quakers' home floor. "I expected a tough battle," Anderson said. "The talent [at Penn] has gotten much stronger. I did think my team had the edge, but they had to do the job." And the Owls just couldn't do it last night. Temple was inconsistent, completing only one beam routine out of six cleanly. By contrast, this meet was filled with repetitions of past glory for the Quakers. Junior Monique Burton set a personal record on floor exercise for the second time this season, receiving a mark of 9.55. Pedersen topped that with her third triumph in the all-around. And senior Lynn Aronica beat her own two-year old vaulting record with a 9.675. After breaking Penn's overall record score against Yale, the Quakers were extremely confident. But they were still winless on the season. This victory has pushed the team's belief in themselves even higher. But Kovic expects even greater things from his team in the future.
(02/09/94 10:00am)
Mona Nedjar Mona Lisa Nedjar's four-year career with Penn gymnastics has been a profile in courage. It certainly didn't start out that way. In fact, when Nedjar came to Penn, she didn't think she would be a gymnast at all. Her choice to attend the University was based solely on academic concerns. And Nedjar didn't know anything about Penn until it was suggested by her high school counselor in Oceanside, Calif. Nedjar was not recruited by the Penn gymnastics team, and did not know if she was going to be able to join the Quakers until she arrived in Philadelphia. She had sent Penn coach Tom Kovic a letter during the summer, which he does not remember. Her arrival was a shock that became a blessing in disguise. "It was September of 1990, and I was sitting in the office getting ready for the new season," Kovic remembers. "A couple of the freshmen brought her into the office and said 'Tom, this is Mona Lisa Nedjar, and she wants to come out for the team.' It turned out to be an absolute dream?to have someone like that come in as a walk-on, and end up as co-captain. And from the get-go, she was just great, a wonderful person to be around." Nedjar started ballet classes at age three, and began gymnastics two years later as a mascot for her older brother's flag football team. Formal lessons in both followed, beginning at age six and continuing until she turned 12. "I did ballet, tap, jazz, baton," she said. "I played soccer, basketball, piano, flute. I did everything, but gymnastics was the one thing that kept going. I kept my focus on it and it's the one activity I've stuck with throughout my life." Sticking with gymnastics has proven to be a great advantage to her. Coach Glenn Wilson of West Coast Gymnastics has known Nedjar since she joined his club at age 10. "Mona first came over when she was 10 years old," Wilson said. "She had been in another club in another town, but they had gone as far as they could with her. She was loose and had poor form, but she was quick and eager to learn." Her family was always solidly behind her while she was growing up, no matter what the activity. "I feel strongly as both a parent and a professional educator that the mind and body go together," said Eleanor Nedjar, Mona's mother. "Gymnastics is where her heart is, and we're all so proud of her that she did what she wanted to do." Rising quickly through the U.S. Gymnastics Federation's age-group ranks, Nedjar won the all-around competition in the Southern California State Championships during her senior year of high school. "She's been a constant source of amazement to me," Wilson said. "She was automatic. Wind her up and send her out on the floor and she'd do a perfect routine every time." But there were times when no one thought Nedjar could ever get this far. She remained with the sport through a series of minor injuries. Nedjar's career was stellar, but disaster struck at the 1991 Ivy Championships. On the last event of the last meet of her freshman season, Nedjar had an accident that could have been career-ending. She was attempting a double-twisting full somersault in the middle of the first tumbling pass of her floor exercise routine when she overrotated and was still twisting when she landed. "I yelled in pain, and I remember hearing it throughout the whole Palestra," Nedjar said. "Everyone was in shock. My music was still going, because the music was so far away and they didn't know what had happened. And I was lying on the ground thinking, 'Oh my God, I don't know if I'm going to be able to walk out of here.' " And she didn't. Nedjar had torn her anterior cruciate ligament and had to be carried from the Palestra. There were doubts about whether she would ever compete again. But that was when she made a choice that would affect the rest of her athletic career. She decided to fight through the pain, and stay with her beloved sport. "One of the hardest things that I've ever had to experience was the surgery and the rehab after that," she said. "I never thought I'd be able to do gymnastics again after the surgery, but I've had so much support, from my friends on and off the team, and my mother." "Her brother and I were sitting in the bleachers and it happened right in front of our eyes," Eleanor Nedjar said. "It was difficult watching her in pain. But we supported her, and whatever we had to do for her, we did." Gymnastics is not the only activity in Nedjar's well-rounded life. A Chi Omega sister, she is also a West Philly tutor and a choreographer for the Arts House dance company. Nedjar is a sociology major with a Health and Medicine concentration, bound for medical school in the fall. This non-traditional approach to the pre-med program does not seem unusual to her. "I wanted to have a non-science major," she said. "That way I could learn something in a totally different field from what I'm going to be involved in, but yet related to it." As her senior year proceeds and the medical school acceptances begin coming in, Nedjar reminisces about her four years at Penn. "I guess it's similar to this season," she said. "All the years I've been working, I've been working for one goal, to make it to medical school and to become a doctor. And now that's one step away. And all my years of gymnastics have come down to this last one, my last year." With time, Nedjar has been able to give a new perspective to her devastating and painful injury. Learning the science behind what happened to her sparked a career interest, and Nedjar now hopes to specialize in orthopedic surgery. She has become a much stronger person, and an inspiration to her teammates and friends. "It's really fantastic to see her come back," Penn senior co-captain Mary Pedersen said. "When I'm scared or not confident I can always look to her. She's always got a reassuring word for everyone, and everyone looks up to her. We're very lucky to have her as captain, to have her in the gym." "Anyone who can come back from an injury of that magnitude is an inspiration to me, let alone the team," Kovic said. "She hurt, she ached, but she had this burning desire to continue. She wanted to be a member of Pennsylvania gymnastics. And she didn't give up, she didn't quit." Nedjar's recovery has been nothing short of spectacular. She started competing again in her sophomore year, on the uneven bars, adding the beam by mid-season. She added vault last year, and was an alternate to the ECAC championships on the beam. This season, she is almost back to full strength and competing on all four events. "I've come a long way," she said. "The thing that's most limiting is the pain. Mentally I'm a lot stronger. I don't think I would have been able to do this if I hadn't gained mental strength." And the support system that got her through her injury is still intact through her college career. "Considering where she was at her lowest point, she hasn't reached her highest high," Kovic said. "I want to do whatever I can to make her experience the best of bests as a Pennsylvania gymnast." It seems like she has been through it all, and emerged stronger than ever. Everyone agrees that Mona Lisa Nedjar is truly a special person. "You don't come across individuals like that very often," Kovic said. "She has not only made a difference in our program, but she has touched me. She's a rare one."
(02/07/94 10:00am)
Setting records doesn't always guarantee a win. The Penn gymnastics team learned this the hard way. Although the Quakers set a school record Saturday with 182.875 points, they still lost to Yale in New Haven, Conn. What made the weekend even more frustrating for Penn (0-2, 0-1 Ivy League) was the fact that the Quakers had beaten the Elis the previous Friday at the George Washington Invitational. That win gave Penn confidence it could beat Yale again and solidify its position at the top of the Ivy League. But even after Saturday's loss, the Quakers are still confident of their skills. They felt possible home-team favoritism in scoring was a bigger issue than the overall outcome of the meet itself. Penn coach Tom Kovic launched several inquiries into the rationale behind the judges' decisions on behalf of the Quakers, but to no avail. "It's tough to win away, especially when you head for Yale," Kovic said. "After two events, we were up by a point, and I think they were shaking in their boots a little bit. The judges weren't giving credit for skills that we were performing, claiming we didn't complete them as meticulously as we expected. We didn't get the benefit of the doubt, and Yale did." "The judging was not as consistent as it could have been," Penn junior Staci Standen said. "There's a home-team advantage. Yale has its own judges, and they hate to see the home team lose." Despite the Penn loss, the beam team of juniors Heather Kahn, Rebecca Anderson, Monique Burton and Nikki LeBrasseur, and senior co-captains Mona Nedjar and Mary Pedersen improved 1.325 points from their performances at the Invitational. And although the Penn bars team was a little weaker, it still hit all of its six routines. Pedersen also won the all-around competition with a personal best of 9.6 on vault, and eclipsed the old Penn all-around record with a 38.05 overall. Pedersen beat four Yale team members on her way to her second all-around title this season. However, Penn believes this meet marks one of those times when a loss isn't really a loss. The Quakers have been inspired by their second-straight outstanding performance against a talented Yale squad. They hope this meet will serve as a foundation for the rest of the season, culminating in the Ivy Championships. "We know that we're the better team," Kovic said. "In a neutral setting, on neutral ground, we'll prevail." "The Ivy Championships isn't determined by your win-loss record," Standen said. "It's determined by one meet on one day, and that's what we're striving for. We'll be out for revenge at the Ivy Championships. We've seen them perform, we know we can beat them, and come March 5, we will." With their scoring problems left behind in New Haven, the Quakers are sure practice will solve their other competition difficulties. Penn will try to put the past behind it again when it meets Yale in the Ivy Championships at Brown. "The loss is a disappointment, but it's also an incentive," LeBrasseur said. "We handled the pressure incredibly well. We'll go into Ivies wanting to prove that we're a better team, while Yale will be overconfident." "We know we're a good team, and we can beat Yale," Burton said. "Maybe we didn't this weekend, but we can in the future."
(02/04/94 10:00am)
Not all Penn sports rivalries are with Princeton. The gymnastics team does not even compete against the Tigers. But the Quakers will have a tough challenge tomorrow, when they face their biggest rival in the form Yale in a dual meet in New Haven, Conn. "This meet is an incredible rivalry," Penn coach Tom Kovic said. "It is critical that we perform when we travel to New Haven. We want to be solidly hitting close to 100 percent of our routines." This is not the first meeting between these two squads this season. They competed against each other last Friday at the George Washington Invitational. Yale rotated on the apparatus ahead of Penn, so the Quakers could watch the Elis during their bye rounds. Being able to see their Ivy rivals in advance has increased Penn's confidence levels. "They looked okay," Penn senior Lynn Aronica said. "They weren't throwing any harder tricks than us. We know we can win if we just hit our routines." At the Invitational, Penn came out on top, but only by .425 points. The Quakers hope they will repeat as victors, and that the differential between the teams will be even larger. After a week of tough practice, Penn believes it is ready for the Elis. "They've been given a lot of flexibility this week," Kovic said. "They're a smart team. They know their weaknesses and what they need to perfect. There has been a strong emphasis on performing routines and conditioning." Last year, the Elis beat the Quakers on their way to the Ivy Championship. That victory snapped Penn's two-year Ivy title streak. The Quakers are determined that things will be different this year. "We're more focused," Aronica said. "Everyone's been doing routines to the best of our ability, and we've really come together as a team. This year we know we can win, if we just hit our routines." The teams have strengths in the same events -- beam and floor exercise. However, Yale stresses simpler routines with more precise presentation, while Penn includes more impressive tricks. The Quakers will be forced to stick their routines if they want to win. "I think we have a stronger level of difficulty," Kovic said. "Yale does scaled-down routines, but performs them cleanly. We've been maintaining the level of difficulty, and practicing making things cleaner and crisper." Though Yale has not lost any team members to graduation, the Elis have not had many additions to their team either. But the combination of tough competition and travel still puts the Quakers at a disadvantage. Going into New Haven, they expect to have to battle, but a victory is not improbable. "They picked up a couple of new recruits, but no superstars," Kovic said. "They're a balanced team, good competitors. And they compete even stronger when we have our duals." "It's always tough to travel to Yale," Aronica said. "They're our competition in the Ivies. Yale is the team to beat."
(02/02/94 10:00am)
The Penn women's soccer team has been without a head coach since Suzette Wolf stepped down in December, and is disappointed a replacement has not already been named. Sophomore captains Heike Krippendorff and Kelly Nolan said they were told by Senior Associate Athletic Director Carolyn Schlie-Femovich and Associate Director Skip Jarocki a full-time head coach would be on board by January 30, but no one has been interviewed for the position. However, both administrators deny any such promise was ever made. "Right now, we're pretty much coachless," said Debbie Goldklang, who completed her senior season and serves as the only student on the search committee. "We don't have many people showing up for practice, and we get pretty poor Annex [practice] times." With the Winter training season approaching quickly, the team is concerned. According to NCAA regulations, all Fall teams are allowed to participate in 12 practices over a six-week period. The Quakers intended to center these practices around an indoor tournament at Villanova February 12. In early December, the University gave permission to make the three-year varsity team's head-coaching position full-time. Wolf, an elementary school teacher, stepped down from the position when the announcement was made. Wolf was hired with the understanding her position was only part-time, but is reluctant to leave the job now that she has seen the team through its developmental stages. "I was hired three years ago with the intention that if the coaching job went full-time, I'd be considered," Wolf said. "But my degree is in education, and I've always wanted to teach. I don't want to give it up." In early December, a meeting took place between Schlie-Femovich, Jarocki and members of the team. The players were made aware of the upgrading of the coaching position, and the future of the team was discussed. "We spoke to the captains before the holidays," Jarocki said. "They made some suggestions as to what they would like to see happen. One of the suggestions was to have a full-time coach. At that point we informed them that we had just received information from the University that we could make it a full-time position. So one of their requests had been granted." The Quakers were pleased with this Athletic Department announcement. However, they were disappointed that Wolf intended to resign. "It's great that we're getting a full-time coach," Nolan said. "It's really discouraging knowing how long it took to find a men's coach. It seems doubtful that we'll get a coach in time for Winter season." "They gave us a full-time coach, and that's a generous thing," Goldklang said. "It's something that needs to be taken seriously, as seriously as the men's coaching job. It's not like [the Athletic Department] is not thinking about it, but it hasn't been a priority like with the men." The Athletic Department has formed a search committee to evaluate applicants. Along with Goldklang, members of the committee include Academic Coordinator Mabel Johnson, volleyball coach Margaret Feeney, former men's soccer and current baseball coach Bob Seddon, Jarocki and Femovich. Goldklang is allowed to participate because she is no longer eligible for collegiate play. Now that the committee is in place, background investigations and interviews of candidates can begin. The estimate for a completion date is late March or early April, Femovich and Jarocki said. "We will try to move as quickly as possible," Femovich said, "but it is not unusual that a search like this takes a number of months. I don't recall saying, 'By such and such a date we will have a new coach.' We want to get the right person who is right for the job." Assistant coach Dave Masterson is being considered for the head position, Femovich and Jarocki said. Both Wolf and the players would be satisfied with the selection. Wolf has offered to stay on as Masterson's assistant. "I think it'll be great to have Dave there," Wolf said. "If Dave is head coach, I'll be more than happy to be assistant -- sort of a role reversal. I don't think they could go wrong with that decision." Tough offseason practice schedules and strong recruiting are essential to continue the improvement of a program that is composed almost entirely of freshmen and sophomores. Wolf, whose contract does not expire until March 1, is quick to reassure the team of her commitment. She has been involved with recruiting and intends to give all the time she can until the new coach is named. "I'll do everything I can to help," Wolf said. "They are concerned that the coaching search will take a while, but I've assured them that I will be there. I'm not going to leave the girls."
(02/02/94 10:00am)
When the Penn gymnastics team traveled to the nation's capital last Friday night to compete in the George Washington Invitational, victory was not high on its list of priorities. William & Mary surprised the host Colonials, winning the meet overall. And although the Quakers only finished fifth out of seven teams, a good performance was all Penn really wanted to take home. And the Quakers did just that, breaking the 180-point barrier and turning in the school's strongest GW Invitational mark in history. With an average score of nine out of 10 on each event, the team finished only one-tenth behind third-place Maryland, and one point behind Temple. The GW Invitational is unusual because the number of teams competing causes long breaks between events. The competition was also of an extremely high quality. But from their first performance on the beam, the Quakers rose to the challenge. "We had byes between rounds when we just sat around, waited and watched," Penn junior Staci Standen said. "Some people got a little bit out of focus temporarily. But I don't think it affected anybody's performance." "It's tough to start on beam," junior Monique Burton said. "It's really loud in the gym and there's a lot of pressure, and beam is an event you can fall on easier than any other. A fall can give you a bad start, but doing well sets a good pace. We did a really good job." Going into the competition, the Quakers were worried because their two previous meets had been cancelled by the weather. Though the team faltered slightly on the floor exercise, performances on uneven bars -- the Quakers' weakest event this season -- were greatly improved. Penn had a two-point increase in scores on this event Friday night. "Everyone performed well in a pressure situation," junior Heather Kahn said. "We had a rough start on floor, but we pulled through. Our bars performances were much better this weekend. Everyone made their routines because we had more time in the gym to practice and perfect." "We wanted to show that we're a good team, and that we belong at that meet," Burton said. "I think we did." Besides proving their worth, beating last year's Ivy-champion Yale squad was the key factor in this meet, since the Quakers face the Elis again this weekend. "The Penn-Yale gymnastics rivalry is terrific," Penn coach Tom Kovic said. "They're basically our competition in the Ivy League. The Invitational gave us a complete indication of what Yale has -- who they recruited, what the team's strengths and weaknesses are." Individuals also excelled. After turning in a meet-record 9.65 on the uneven bars, senior co-captain Mary Pedersen finished fifth in the all-around competition. Pedersen's victory marked the first time a Penn athlete has won an event at the GW Invitational. Burton triumphed as well, with a fourth-place finish and a personal best of 9.5 in the floor exercise. "It's good to compete in that atmosphere," Burton said. "A lot of people are really great gymnasts, and there's an added incentive to do your best." And though the Quakers did not win the meet, it was truly an evening of victorious firsts.
(01/28/94 10:00am)
When someone says a team didn't show up for a contest, usually the team had a poor performance. But since the Penn gymnastics team's last two meets have been cancelled due to bad weather, the Quakers have literally been living the adage. The first of these missed meets -- against Division II West Chester -- was no great loss. Wednesday's meet against West Chester, Division III Ursinus and crosstown-rival Temple, was more important. Tonight the Quakers will battle the elements, and six other squads, as they travel to the George Washington Invitational. "Historically, the GW meet is always special for the team," Penn coach Tom Kovic said. "It's strong competition from the Mid-Atlantic and South regions." Though the forecast for the nation's capital is clear, ice storms are imminent en route. In anticipation of the weather, the Penn Athletic Department has forbidden any vans from leaving campus today. So the Quakers are forced to change their usual transportation routine and load the team onto a rented bus, adding yet more pressure. "Between the cold weather in the gym, and the missed competitions, it's very important to keep morale high," Kovic said. "But they've taken these challenges, and if asked to perform, they will." The Quakers will be facing Maryland, Bridgeport, Temple, William and Mary, host George Washington and Ivy-rival Yale this evening. It is not the size of the meet, but the abilities of the opposition that interest the Quakers. "It's a bigger meet with much stronger teams," Penn junior Staci Standen said. "There will be a huge crowd, and the judges are likely to be more lenient with scores." Because of their opposition's heightened skills, the Quakers have changed their attitude. The team knows what to expect, and the laid back approach has disappeared, Penn hopes. The Quakers will put their most qualified athletes on the floor, with senior co-captains Mary Pedersen returning to the all-around and Mona Nedjar adding the floor exercise for the first time this season to her repertoire. "We've been stressing the presentation of routines, cleaning things up and making skills perfect," Pedersen said. "It's great to go against really good teams." Though the Quakers may be suffering from a lack of competition, they have not taken this time off. The team has been holding practices throughout the storms, and Penn is anxious to show off exactly what it can do. However, the Quakers still worry about how the rescheduling of the missed meets will affect the remainder of the season. "We're disappointed with the cancellations because the meets we missed were supposed to be extra practice for us," Standen said. "Toward the end of the season, we want to spend more time perfecting skills. "Now we're going to be scrambling and having more competitions when we could use the practice." "Meets are wonderful, fun and exciting, but also draining," Nedjar said. "People have been discouraged, but we'll be better than we would have been if we had had a meet on Wednesday." The Quakers will attempt to rise to the challenge in Washington this evening, if they can get there. "We can't take many more of these," Kovic said. "We've got to get in and compete."
(01/14/94 10:00am)
The new year brought a new set of regulations for the Penn women's gymnastics team. That means the Quakers will not only be competing against a tough Rhode Island squad tomorrow (1 p.m., Hutchinson Gym), but also against the rule books. "This meet is new for us, for everyone involved," junior Rebecca Anderson said. "Because it's the first meet, and not a league meet, it's most important to get through our routines in front of the judge." The judging may prove to be a big problem for the Quakers. A perfect score in gymnastics is 10, which is calculated from a base score, plus bonus points allocated for especially challenging combinations of moves. The new rules lower the base scores, while raising the difficulty of moves needed to gain points. It will make top marks extremely hard to attain. "We do not use a risky style of gymnastics," Penn head coach Tom Kovic said. "But out of necessity, difficulty has been added to almost everyone's routine. We see the revision of the code as a challenge, and they've risen to the challenge as a team across the board." Only the top six scores in each event count towards the team's total. Judges generally build from the first performer, which is usually the weakest individual's score. Therefore, new rules will be hardest on this first competitor. "The scoring will be a little bit more unexpected," Anderson said. "We don't really know what the judges are going to do with the new scoring system." "We've had a lot of new rule changes so the scores are going to be different," senior co-captain Mary Pedersen said. "They've made it harder, so we have to throw more difficult skills. A lot of our scores will start lower." The lowered scores will be most apparent in the uneven bars, the Quakers' weakest event. "Scores have been devalued to lower levels," Kovic said. "Bars will be an extremely hard event to score on this year. Overall, I expect low to mid-180 range scores." After their injury-plagued second-place Ivy League finish last season, the Quakers are looking forward to a new start. With a solid core of upperclassmen bolstered by four freshmen, Penn believes it is prepared to regain the Ivy title and challenge in the ECAC. The returning team members, among them Anderson, junior Monique Burton, and sophomore Shelly Waldman, will add much-needed depth to the Quaker squad. "I think we'll have improvements," senior co-captain Mona Nedjar said. "Not only have the freshmen added to our team, but the upperclassmen have all gotten stronger." But Rhode Island is coming off its most successful season in school history, 13-6, with eight letter-winners returning. The Rams will give the Quakers tough competition. But Penn is not frightened of its adversaries. Team attitudes varied from noncommittal to grateful for the challenge. "They're a really, really strong team," junior Nicole LeBrasseur said. "They're a scholarship school, and they'll be tough to beat." The Quakers' only competition so far this year has been against themselves, in an intrasquad meet in December. The combination of the lack of meet performances, the toughness of the Rams, the multitudes of rule changes and nagging injuries make this meet a challenge for Penn. It also makes the Quakers more determined to put on a good performance at home. The team members have specific overall goals for themselves, not only for this meet, but for the season as a whole. "We have a goal," junior Staci Standen said. "We want to have a 90-percent hit rate -- 90 percent of our routines where we didn't fall or have major errors." "This year we're working through injuries as much as we can," Nedjar said. "Last year we had some really bad injuries that took their toll and took some people out of competition. This year we're more able to focus on what we can and can't do and avoid those things that hurt worst, so we can be the best as a team." The women's gymnastics team has new members, new uniforms and a new outlook. The Quakers are ready to start the season and face the new rules.
(10/29/93 9:00am)
This season has been a learning experience for the young Penn women's soccer team. But it hopes that this time the underdog will be able to teach the Bulldogs new tricks. The Quakers (0-5 Ivy League, 3-7-1 overall) face off against Yale (3-2, 6-5-1) tonight in New Haven. They hope to finally be able to make the hard-learned lessons of Ivy play work for them. "We've earned a lot about each other's style of play," senior captain and goaltender Debbie Goldklang said. "We have to go in ready to win, and not panic." Despite Goldklang's calming influence, with only three games remaining the Quakers know that this is do-or-die time. An Ivy League win was the preseason goal, and their chances to achieve this are dwindling. Even though the Elis defeated Penn 6-0 last year on their way to the Ivy championship, the Quakers are not intimidated by their opponent's past history. They are not putting any additional pressure on themselves. "Yale was at the top of the Ivy League last year," Penn head coach Suzette Wolf said. "They're deceivingly the strongest team in the Ivies. For some reason they don't seem to show it." "Last year, we lost pretty badly," sophomore defender Meg Kinney said. "This year, it's going to be a completely different game." But the Quakers will have to deal with a tough Yale team led by Ivy League Player of the Year and second-team all-America senior forward Jen Teti. "They have very solid players," Goldklang said. "They're solid on the midfield, solid on defense. But Jen Teti is their go-to girl." "Jen Teti pretty much runs the team," Wolf said. "She's not a scoring threat, but she's a dominating kind of player. She's all over the field, and the team revolves around her." The coaching staff does not expect any changes in the game plan for today's game against Yale. That means that sophomore midfielder Heike Krippendorff and freshman defender Heather Herson will probably be splitting defensive duties on Teti, as they have on other teams' stars. "Heike and Heather have successfully neutralized all the players' they've defended this season," Goldklang said. "They deserve more credit than what shows up in the box score. Our defense has to be alert, and that's just going to come down to communication." The game will be played on a natural-grass surface in New Haven. Though the Quakers play their home games on astroturf at Franklin Field, they do not anticipate any problems adjusting. "You can't play quality soccer on turf," Kinney said. "We practice on grass, we're comfortable on grass. Most of us have played on grass for our entire lives." In fact, the grass surface will be beneficial for both teams' ball-control ground game. "[Both teams] play very controlled and disciplined games," Wolf said. "They play better by keeping the ball on the ground." With only two more chances left for that coveted Ivy win, the odds are stacked against the Quakers. But despite that, the Quakers' optimism continues no matter what. "I don't think we've got anything to lose," Kinney said. "I hope we're going to go out there and make a good showing." "We can play with Yale very easily," Wolf said. "We're not going in scared, but we're going in careful."
(10/25/93 9:00am)
Sticks and stones may break its bones, but it's the title of Ivy League underdog that really hurts the Penn women's soccer team (0-5 Ivy League, 3-7-1 overall). And despite the Quakers' two-game winning streak, they resumed that role as they returned to Ivy play Saturday night against Brown (4-1, 6-6). In front of Franklin Field stands crowded with family and friends, Penn suffered another tough shutout, 1-0. From an opening cheer of "Win together," the Quakers seemed poised and prepared to win their first-ever Ivy League game, but their efforts were to no avail in the face of a tough Brown squad. "We were pretty evenly matched," sophomore forward Amaryllis Seabrooks said. "We were down but we played with them." As promised, Brown played an aggressive game on both ends of the field, racking up 29 fouls. Despite a noticeable height disadvantage, Penn stayed with the Bears physically, striking back with 15 fouls of its own. "Brown is a very strong, physical team," Penn assistant coach Dave Masterson said. "Pound for pound they were a better team, but we held up well against them." "They hit us really hard in the first half," sophomore midfielder Heike Krippendorff said. "In the second half we showed them that we wouldn't take that." Unfortunately, only the Quakers emerged the worse for wear, with both the loss and injuries. Freshman defender Anne Davies left the game early in the first half after being hit in the eye with a header, and freshman forward Yuka Morita suffered an ankle injury late in the game. "Yuka's been seeing a lot of abuse," Penn head coach Suzette Wolf said. "But she's taking it like a champ." "They were definitely a dirty team," Davies said. With 28:15 left in the second half, the referees finally stepped in, issuing a yellow card warning to Brown's senior forward Kat Alfond. Penn was held to only seven shots on goal and was unable to capitalize on the few opportunities it did get, missing several good chances in front of the net. Bears' freshman goalie Sarah Kelley made four solid saves. The Brown goal came early, with only 15:47 gone in the game, but the Quakers refused to give up. Both the offense and the defense played a close, confident game, and senior goalie Debbie Goldklang turned in an excellent performance as usual, stopping 13 Brown shots. But it was still not enough. "It was a nice shot, but it was from 35 yards out," Seabrooks said. "It wasn't a fluke, but it wasn't a lapse in defense. They got lucky because they scored first." Some of the Quakers expressed disappointment with the game. And it was not just the final result that attracted their attention. The officiating, the Franklin Field astroturf, and the overall play of their own team were all targets of the Quakers' postgame wrath. "We played pretty well," freshman midfielder Nicole Caruso said. "But we still didn't play our best. It's really hard to control the ball on turf." But there was victory in this loss, as the Quakers came together as a team to hold the Bears back. "Losing 1-0 was respectable," Krippendorff said. "We played really well, and it was almost like a win. Walking off we felt like we won."
(10/21/93 9:00am)
Perseverance has finally paid off for the Penn women's soccer team. While the rest of campus relaxed over Fall Break, the 3-6-1 Quakers shut out West Chester Friday afternoon at Franklin Field 1-0, then traveled to Easton, Pa., to beat Lafayette 2-1 on Tuesday. "We kicked some major butt," freshman forward Yuka Morita said. "It's self-satisfaction. After all the work we put in, we're getting rewards." It was teamwork that enabled the Quakers to beat the Rams (4-6) and Leopards (6-9), in the process producing the team's first-ever two-game winning streak. Both the offense and defense played excellent, balanced games. "We have unsung heroes," senior captain and goaltender Debbie Goldklang said. "The defense shut down [Lafayette's senior midfielder] Heidi Caruso. The offense got production from [sophomore forward] Christy Mach, Yuka Morita, and [freshman midfielder] Nicole Caruso. It was a combined effort. No one player stood out." "We finally came together, all at once," junior forward Alisha Berger said. "It's nice when the whole team can function as a unit." In the West Chester game, the Quaker goal was scored by Morita, with an assist from freshman forward Erin Cohen. Morita also contributed in the Lafayette game, chipping in with a penalty-kick goal and an assist on Mach's game winner. "We're much more confident," Goldklang said. "We worked the ball better, and connected on our passes. We scored quality goals. Christy Mach's goal was the best we've had all season." The Quaker defense also performed admirably, holding the Rams to only one shot on goal in the 90-minute game on Friday. And even though Lafayette's highly-touted Caruso scored the Leopards' only goal of the game, she was held in check by the tough Penn squad. Sophomore midfielder Heike Krippendorff and freshman defender Heather Herson switched off on the task of marking Caruso, keeping her relatively contained. And Goldklang turned in her usual stellar performance, stopping 12 shots in Tuesday's win. The elder Caruso's presence provided yet another spark to the Quakers, contributing to the aggressiveness of the younger Caruso. "I was enthusiastic," Penn's Caruso said. "It was the only time Heidi and I had ever played together, and I was looking forward to it. It was a great day to play soccer." "Nicole went into the game wanting to win," Mach said. "She served as a motivator for the team." As usual, the Quakers carried their positive attitude into the non-conference games. But though the game against the Division II Rams seemed to be more of a joke, Lafayette was a tougher opponent than expected. "Lafayette's like Columbia," Penn head coach Suzette Wolf said. "They're not weak, and they have a few good players who dominate the game. The two teams (Penn and Lafayette) were evenly matched. It was a good game to watch." "West Chester is definitely not in the caliber of the Ivy League," Goldklang said. "Lafayette is a much better team than West Chester, but we played better soccer than them." "West Chester and Lafayette are a step below [Ivy squads] but they are still very competitive," sophomore defender Meg Kinney said. "But we've lost to teams of their caliber before." The Quakers seem to have overcome their past mental lapses in the two victories. This weekend the Penn women's soccer team finally played up to its capabilities. "All facets of the team are very strong," Kinney said. "It's the first time we've all come together, and good things will come out of it." The two wins will be a boost to the Quakers as they return to Ivy League play, for winning certainly brings the fun back into the game. "The team is building together," Wolf said. "Their spirits are lifted, and they feel better about themselves. It's really going to help them make a difference." "This is the first time we've won two games in a row," Goldklang said. "This is the turning point. We're done with that losing mentality that we've carried with us for a couple of seasons." "The team is coming together," Mach said. "The attitude is improving. The desire is there. That's why we're winning. And it's about time." And the Quakers have spent far too much time this season losing. They will try to use the power of positive thinking as they return to Ivy League play this weekend.
(10/15/93 9:00am)
The Penn women' soccer team (1-6-1 overall, 0-4 Ivy League) is mad as hell. The Quakers are mad at themselves. But they get a chance to redeem themselves today (4 p.m.) versus West Chester (4-5) and Tuesday at Lafayette (6-7). Despite recent losses to Ivy opponents and a conference losing streak stretching back to the team's creation three years ago, the Quakers still believe in themselves and their ability. "We have a new style," freshman midfielder Lisa Paster said. "We're playing better ball, we have more confidence, and we deserve to win." "We've worked hard all season," freshman defender Heather Herson said. "[The loss to Columbia] is not a setback. If anything, it made us angry. We've lost too many of those [games we expected to win]." West Chester is a new squad – only two years old. They are trying to improve on last season's abysmal 2-7 record. In the last meeting between the Quakers and the Division II Rams, in indoor league last winter (after the varsity season), the Quakers emerged victorious. The Quakers are looking to today's contest as a game that they can dominate and take home as a victory. Playing at Franklin Field will provide yet another boost for the home Quakers. "We beat West Chester indoors," Penn head coach Suzette Wolf said. "And I'm sure they're not going to like turf. We have an advantage on turf because we're more used to it. And we have more enthusiasm because we think we can win." The Leopards will be coming into Tuesday's game on a hot streak, winning four of their last five games (not including their game tomorrow against Lehigh). But Tuesday's contest against Lafayette promises to be much tougher, though still winnable, for the Quakers. "These two games coming up should be more at our level," freshman midfielder Nicole Caruso said. "We have a good chance of winning both if we step it up and play aggressively. We realize that we have a chance, and hopefully things will turn around." Lafayette coach Daniel Magner both praised his own players and spoke well of the Quakers. "It's going to be real even," Magner said. "Against common opponents, the two teams have had comparable results, and Suzette does a great job with her team. I expect a tight, well-contested game." One interesting twist to Tuesday's game is the presence of Lafayette senior midfielder Heidi Caruso, the older sister of Penn's Nicole Caruso. The elder Caruso, who also excels on the basketball court (holding the NCAA record for steals), is ranked 13th in the country in scoring. After playing in the shadow of her sister for so long, Nicole is not used to the focus being on her, but she is taking it all in stride. "[Heidi] is really good in sports," Penn's Caruso said. "She's a much better athlete than I am. She's always been an inspiration and role model to me." But playing against her sister does not change Nicole's approach to the game. "I'm not intimidated by her," she said. "I've gotten used to it. I respect her, but I play the best I can and try not to put pressure on myself. I hope we crush 'em." The two sisters play offensive positions, so they will not come into contact much. But the Quakers will be focusing on the elder Caruso in their game against Lafayette. Other outstanding Leopard athletes include their freshman goaltender, Wendy Kaemmerlan. But the Quakers have their own budding stars, like freshman forward Yuka Morita, sophomore defender Meg Kinney and the younger Caruso. Unfortunately, Penn will be missing two of its biggest playmakers – sophomore midfielders Kelly Nolan and Tonya Kolodziejksi – who will be sitting out due to injuries. "Kelly orchestrates a lot of the balls that get us to the goal," junior forward Alisha Berger said. "We'll really feel the loss. But if everybody's on we can win." "Physically they're beat from Harvard and Columbia," Wolf said. "[But] we're a strong bunch, and we're tired of losing. We're pissed off, annoyed, and sick of it." And they're not going to take losing any more.
(10/01/93 9:00am)
The Penn women's soccer team (1-3-1) came into Thursday's contest against Lehigh (3-6) in an unaccustomed position – on equal footing with the opponent . It came out of the game in just as unfamiliar a position, as 5-2 winners over the Engineers. "It was our most winnable game so far," senior captain and goalkeeper Debbie Goldklang said. "In past years we've always played with them, and we were hungry for our first win." This was a game the Quakers absolutely had to have, and they responded, completely overpowering a weaker Engineers squad. Their determination and drive coming into the bone-chilling cold of this contest made them seem calm at the results of the game. "I knew we were going to win," Penn coach Suzette Wolf said. "We're a better team – stronger, faster, and more decisive." Lehigh scored first, but the undaunted Quakers tied the game up minutes later. With only 2:26 left in the half, freshman defender Anne Davies put the Quakers into the lead for the first time – in not only this game, but in this entire season. And that was not the end of the Penn scoring. Though the Quakers gave up a quick goal coming out of halftime, they responded once again with three second-half goals – more than they had scored in the season thus far. Penn had a balanced attack, leaving Lehigh's freshman goalie completely confused. In fact, she may have even helped the Quakers by positioning herself too far back into the net to save some of the shots. She actually caught two shots only after they had crossed the goal line. Penn sophomore midfielder Heike Krippendorff broke the 2-2 deadlock by scoring Penn's third goal of the game, a monster shot from 40 yards out, the first of her collegiate career. "Heike lit a fire under the team," Wolf said. "Her goal cracked the ice." She was followed two minutes later by sophomore midfielder Kelly Nolan, who made a penalty shot over a wall of Lehigh-brown shirts. The final goal of the game was scored with under six minutes remaining, off a header in a scramble in front of the net. But the Penn win was not without cost, as the Franklin Field turf may have claimed more than just the Lehigh team as victims. Sophomore midfielder Tonya Kolodziejski went down with 4:58 remaining in the first half, needing assistance to leave the field. "Tonya planted her foot, and strained her knee," Wolf said. "It's not good, whatever it is." Despite her injury, Kolodziejski remained upbeat and positive. "Everyone's mind is set," Kolodziejski said. "This is the turning point [for the season]." While Penn's offense was hot, the Quakers also managed to shut down Lehigh's star midfielder Dia Johnson. Thanks to the efforts of a powerful defense, Penn held the Engineers to few shots on goal. Davies and Nolan excelled on both ends of the field, both scoring goals and keeping Lehigh in its own end. "It's a really great feeling," Nolan said. "We really needed a win," The Quakers believe that the game will serve as both an icebreaker and a boost for the rest of the season. "It gives us confidence and hope," freshman defender Heather Herson said. "Now we know we can score. We know we can win." "It was a well-deserved win," Goldklang said. "It's a relief knowing we can put the ball in the net. We played with a lot more confidence. And this is just the beginning."
(09/30/93 9:00am)
and CHRIS FOX The Penn women's soccer team (0-3-1) faces Lehigh (3-5) at Franklin Field tonight (7:30 p.m.) in a must-win situation. Well, it's not quite do or die, but a win sure wouldn't hurt. After struggling through their first four contests the Quakers are searching for that coveted first win against a beatable Lehigh squad. Since this is a non-Ivy League game, the Penn team is optimistic of their chances for success. "There are certain games we're supposed to win," Penn coach Suzette Wolf said. "It's a reasonable goal for us to win every game out of our conference. We have a very legitimate shot at beating Lehigh." Penn comes into this game after being blanked by current Ivy leader Dartmouth, a game that saw the Quakers try an unorthodox game plan in an attempt to contain the multiple stars of a tough Big Green squad. Today the Quakers will have to deal with the Engineers' key player – sophomore halfback Dia Johnson. Johnson, who scored the game-winning goal in Lehigh's previous contest against La Salle, will be a difficult challenge for the young Quaker defense. Handling the defending duties on Johnson tonight will be freshman Heather Herson. "[Last year sophomore midfielder] Heike Krippendorff totally kept her [Johnson] out of the picture until the second half," Wolf said. "We never should have lost that game. If we play her closely, we should do well." The Quakers, not proud of last year's 3-2 loss to the Engineers, are looking for revenge tonight. Shedding the conservative defensive style mounted against Dartmouth, Penn has improved its overall team fitness and is looking to finally showcase its offensive arsenal. However, expectations might run short if the Quakers can't put the ball in the net, a problem that has limited the team to only a pair of goals thus far this season. "We have to work the ball better, finish our shots, and take the goal-scoring opportunities we get more seriously," Wolf said. "We have to capitalize on them." Penn will rely on the sure feet of freshman forward Yuka Morita and sophomore midfielder Kelly Nolan on offense and a surging defense with a now-healthy senior captain Debbie Goldklang back in net. "We deserve to win," junior defender Debbie Greene said. "We're the better team." A Penn team that fields only three upperclassmen and starts six freshmen may find an away game in the Ivy League to be too big a challenge, but the contest against the Engineers should be theirs for the taking. "It's hard because we're so young," Wolf said. "I'm not going to say that we're going to beat a Harvard, Yale, or Dartmouth. A lot of Ivy games are still out of reach for us, but we're playing well in general, and I anticipate a good game." "We're a young team, but we're learning and gaining experience," sophomore defender Meg Kinney said. "Ivy teams are better skilled, and we're used to playing on their level. Lehigh is not the same caliber as the Ivy League. We want to transfer the way we play against Ivy teams onto Lehigh." Tonight's will be on the familiar astroturf of Franklin Field, a clear advantage for the Quakers. But the greatest advantage might be morale, as the Quakers enter this non-Ivy contest without their accustomed underdog role. "Physically, we can play with them," Kinney said. "Mentally, we're on this losing streak, and for our team's sake, we have to win. We want to break it. We don't want to lose again on Franklin Field." "I expect to win," Wolf said. "And I think [the team does] too."
(09/23/93 9:00am)
Imagine the Chicago Bulls without Michael Jordan, the Philadelphia Flyers without Eric Lindros, or the Baltimore Orioles without Cal Ripken, Jr. That's the situation the Penn women's soccer team was facing in its game at Bucknell last night. Senior captain and goalie Debbie Goldklang missed the first game of her collegiate career, fighting off a high fever while her teammates traveled to Lewisburg, Pa., and fought the 5-1 Bison. Despite Goldklang's absence, the Quakers managed to battle the Bison to a 1-1 double-overtime tie, improving their season record to 0-2-1. "It was a pretty even match," sophomore midfielder Kelly Nolan said. "But we dominated most of the second half." Though she was upset about not being able to participate, Goldklang downplayed her role in the team's effort. "Our biggest burden is stopping Lisa Gibbons," Goldklang said. "It all turns on how we do against that girl up front." Junior forward Gibbons, or "that girl up front," is the current Division I leader in both goals scored (15) and overall points (32). She continued her domination of the Quakers last night, scoring Bucknell's only goal with 24:37 left in the game, tying her own single-season goal-scoring record. Freshman defender Heather Herson turned in an admirable performance against Gibbons. "Heather basically shut her [Gibbons] down," Nolan said. The Quakers held off Bucknell thanks to an unassisted second-half goal from freshman midfielder Lisa Paster. With 17:09 left in the game, Paster scored from 10 yards out after a scramble in front of the net. The Penn defense also performed well, holding the Bison to 19 shots on goal. And freshman goaltender Erin Heffernan faced up to the pressure of her first collegiate start and turned in an excellent performance. "Erin and I have different styles," Goldklang said. "She's a good keeper, with really good hands." The Quakers' pregame focus on overall fitness and playing as a unit showed in their performance. "We played really well together," Nolan said. "We had nice combinations on the forward line." This game should serve as a boost for the team as it prepares to face Ivy League competitor Dartmouth this weekend. But it means much more than that. It proves what the Quakers have been saying since their inception three years ago – that they are not dependent upon their few upperclassmen for success. "There are a lot of potential leaders on the team," Goldklang said. "I hope some of them step up." The tie last night may mean that they have done just that. With their star-quality performances, Herson, Paster and Heffernan mark the new class of up-and-coming Quakers, who are more than ready to fill in when the older stars go down.
(09/20/93 9:00am)
For the Penn women's soccer team, it's dZja vu all over again. In the middle of a downpour Friday night, the Quakers faced off against Cornell. In a near-replay of last year's game, the young Penn team was shut out by the Big Red, 4-0. The Quakers' starting lineup of only one upperclassman – senior captain and goalie Debbie Goldklang – came out strong, playing Cornell tough for the first 15 minutes. "[The Big Red] were expecting less of a team," sophomore defender Meg Kinney said. "We surprised and scared them, at least for the first 20 minutes." Penn (0-1 Ivy League, 0-2 overall) was clearly overmatched against a more experienced Cornell squad (1-0, 2-1). The Quakers managed only one shot on goal during the entire 90-minute game. "Cornell is a strong team," sophomore midfielder Heike Krippendorff said. "They were intimidating. We tried to intimidate them by sticking them hard in the first half, but after we were scored on once, it was hard to come back." "After the first goal, we just let everything down," Goldklang said. "We can't expect to be a successful team with that production." Though the weather was horrible, the Quakers did not use that as an excuse for their loss. "I was frustrated," freshman forward Yuka Morita said. "The rain made it harder to control the ball, [because] the ball slides a lot faster on wet turf. We let down a little bit, and little things just added up." "Franklin Field was wet and slippery," Krippendorff said. "It should have been to our advantage, because we're used to playing on turf. We should have been able to adjust." Some Penn team members who excelled in the loss included sophomore midfielder Kelly Nolan, Morita, and Goldklang. The Quakers were modest about their performance, considering the overall result. "After they scored, we got really frantic," Nolan said. "I would've been happier if they hadn't scored." Many of the freshmen Quakers commented on playing at Franklin Field for the first time. The combination of the tough Cornell team, the weather, and the stadium experience combined to make the game even more difficult for the newcomers. "I had never played in a stadium like that before," Morita said. "It was an adrenaline rush and nerve-racking at the same time." Penn practice sessions this week will focus on fitness and game-like conditioning as well as learning how to play together as the Quakers attempt to put their first two games behind them. "We've got to learn how to play together," Goldklang said. "We have to work on getting the ball from the defense to the midfielders and finishing. We just can't seem to get that shot off." "We're still trying to work on finishing in the final third," Wolf said. "We've been progressing up the field nicely, but once we get around the 18 [yard line] we just stop." Despite the loss, the Quakers hope to use this game as a learning experience and a positive springboard for the rest of the season. "We're only going to move up from this," Wolf said. "They learned that they can't give up, because the Ivy League only comes back harder." "We're an underdog, always an underdog," Krippendorff said. "Teams come in with the mentality that they were going to beat us. We are trying to use our desire and aggressiveness as advantages. We want to show them that they're wrong." "I'm optimistic," Kinney said. "It was a respectable loss and we walked off the field with our heads up. The score doesn't indicate the real nature of the game."
(09/15/93 9:00am)
and MICHAEL HASDAY Have you ever wanted a second chance at something, but knew you would never get one? Today the Penn women's soccer team gets that coveted second chance as it travels to Villanova in its season premiere. "Walking off the field [after the 1-0 loss last season] I felt embarrassed," senior captain and goalkeeper Debbie Goldklang said. "It was one of our most winnable games." That loss last year to the Wildcats was indeed a tough one, so the Quakers will be looking for revenge this afternoon. According to the players, the keys to today's game are to work hard together against Villanova's tough offense and to push the ball upfield. "We have to attack the goal," Penn coach Suzette Wolf said. "We have been working on finishing in the 'final third.' " That's coach-speak for getting shots on goal. The Quakers have also had some game experience in pressuring the goal. Though they lost a scrimmage last week to NAIA school Georgian Court, they showed significant improvement. "We were in their end the whole game," Wolf said. "We've had a great week in practice trying to penetrate and get shots on goal." The Quakers are looking to improve upon last season's eight goals. Most see the first game of the season as pivotal. "It sets the mentality for the season," freshman goalkeeper Erin Heffernan said. "This game is important for building confidence," junior defender Debbie Greene said. "Since it's a young team, a lot of us haven't played together. It's very important for the team to see how we can operate as a unit." And this Penn unit has not had a lot of time to gel. The starting lineup for today's game has only one upperclassman, Goldklang. The rest of the squad consists of six freshmen and four sophomores. Goldklang keeps the game in perspective, noting that though the Quakers won their first game last season, the team still had a tough year. "Although the game is important, we still have to learn how to play with each other," Goldklang said. But don't underestimate the Quakers just because they're young. The team has been working hard to improve on last year's trying 3-12 season. And though every game will be a challenge for Penn, non-Ivy opponent Villanova will be a big test. "The Ivy League is tough," sophomore midfielder Heike Krippendorff said. "But the non-conference teams have better athletes. They are stronger and faster, so their play is quicker and more aggressive. Our youth is going to make us strong – maybe not this year, but in the future." Much is expected of the freshmen Quakers, who will have to make a quick adjustment from high school to college play. They will be helped by the large amount of playing time they will receive and the team's core of a few upperclassmen and "veteran sophomores." "I expect everyone to contribute to the team's success," assistant coach Dave Masterson said. "The team you're playing against doesn't care if you're freshmen or seniors when they're scoring goals against you." And Villanova will be coming into their home field fired up from a victory over Temple last week, so the Quakers have their work cut out for them. Even though this game will be played away from the familiar astroturf of Franklin Field, the Quakers do not foresee any difficulty adjusting to grass. "We've been been practicing on grass [for two weeks]," Goldklang said. "We're ready for whatever." "Whoever wants to win more will," Greene said. "It's a question of desire." Though the young team may have enough desire, the Quakers will still have to overcome their lack of experience and a long list of injuries to key players. "We've had a lot of injuries in the preseason, including a lot of the freshmen," sophomore midfielder Dana Czuczka said. "But almost everyone's back in top shape." Czuczka herself will be sitting out this week with an aggravated knee injury. Joining her on the Quakers bench are sophomore forward Amaryllis Seabrooks and freshman Ann Davies, among others. But despite missing players, the Quakers remain confident. "We've been playing injured and fatigued," Wolf said. "But they're all going to be hot tomorrow. The desire's there. The maturity is still building." "Everyone's hungry," Masterson said. "There are a lot of girls with equal ability and they're all fighting for playing time." For the freshmen, this will be their first chance to show what they're made of. But for the sophomores and Goldklang, this will be their rare second chance.
(09/09/93 9:00am)
It's had a year to learn, and now the Penn women's soccer team is faster, stronger, and more prepared than ever before. It will be a struggle for the Quakers to overcome the weaknesses that led to last year's dismal 3-12 record (0-7 Ivy League), a year which saw the Quakers score only eight goals the entire season. In anticipation of the third year of Penn women's soccer, the team has been working hard in the offseason by playing in indoor tournaments and competitive summer leagues. Offseason work may help the Quakers realize their potential and rise to the challenge of Ivy League play. "The division's not getting easier," Quaker coach Suzette Wolf said. "We've gotten better." Though the Quakers lost last year's co-captains Liz Rizen and Tara Harmon to graduation, the young team of only three upperclassmen is looking forward to another chance. "We are very self-motivated and eager to win," Wolf said. "Last year we were practically all freshmen. This year we are benefiting from that since the freshmen are now sophomores with experience." Some of the outstanding players who will be returning to the Quakers include sophomore midfielders Tonya Kolodziejski and Kelly Nolan – one of the team's top goal scorers from 1992 – and senior captain and goalkeeper Debbie Goldklang. The sophomores will form a valuable veteran nucleus, since eight of them started last year as freshmen. "We can benefit from our youth, because the whole team got to play last season," sophomore defender Meg Kinney said. "We are the core of the team. We can make more of an impact." This year's freshman recruiting class includes such high school standouts as midfielders Lisa Paster, Yuka Morita and Jill Brown – all of whom have been playing soccer practically from birth. Their transition to the tough combination of Ivy League academics and athletics has been eased by the "Little Sister" program, an advising network formed by and for Quaker soccer team members. "This is the best recruiting class yet," Goldklang said. "The returning players are in top shape, but they are being pushed by the recruits." Due to the abundance of young players, the members of the Penn team are in competition with each other, as well as their Ivy League opponents. Because there are so many newcomers, the Quakers are still learning to be cohesive. "We have a lot of skill," Morita said. "But we have to figure out how to use everyone together as a team." Still another addition which should help the Quakers is their new assistant coach, Dave Masterson, who comes to Penn from a newly-formed women's soccer team at Muhlenberg College. Team members believe that he will provide added support and inspiration through the long season. With help from Wolf and Masterson, the Quakers have banished the negative attitude that was prevalent last season. This year having faith in personal and team ability and thinking positively is the most important thing. "We have a great desire to win," Wolf said. "We don't give up, no matter what the score is." The Quakers begin their season Wednesday at Villanova, and face their first Ivy rival, Cornell, next weekend. This season's prospects for success are improved because the Quakers will be facing their toughest Ivy competition – Dartmouth, Yale and Cornell – at the friendly confines of Franklin Field. By then the Quakers expect to be a well-trained, cohesive unit. "Everyone on the field deserves to be on the team," Goldklang said. "We don't have any weaknesses. We can upset every Ivy League team." And the new-look team with a core of "veteran sophomores" hopes this will be the year where it will sneak up on a few teams and get its first-ever Ivy League victory.
