A slow, lethargic start threatened the Penn volleyball team's chances of staying alive in the Ivy League title race, but it found its focus just in time to storm past Harvard 3-1 and Dartmouth 3-0 and keep Penn's championship hopes alive. The Quakers (16-7, 9-2 Ivy) now stand two games behind League-leading Princeton and sit alone at the No.

Having been eliminated from title contention last week, Penn's 7-0 win over Princeton on Saturday technically didn't mean a thing. But don't let the Quakers hear you say that. During a season with few bright spots, where the Penn football team has had little to be happy about, the Quakers finally have a reason to crack a smile.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kevin Sweetland played a near-perfect game for the Quakers. The Penn defense, however, did not allow him to work his magic on the only goal scored by Princeton. "To be quite honest we sort of came out half asleep, and they took advantage of that," senior defender Keith Vereb said.

Less than three minutes into an extra frame, sophomore forward Mara Fintzi's cross from the right corner was sent home by a header from freshman forward Kristin Kaiser, giving Penn a 1-0 victory and a share of the Ivy League title for only the second time in school history.

After losing so many close games despite playing solid football, the Penn defense was fed up. In a grueling battle which saw both offenses struggle to find their rhythm, the Quakers' defense finally took control and delivered a win, shutting out Princeton, 7-0, at Franklin Field on Saturday.

Coming into this weekend, as many as four teams, including Penn, could have tied for the Ivy League field hockey championship. Five scenarios, two of which involved random draws, could have determined the conference's NCAA Tournament bid. In the end, the simplest scenario unfolded and the results weren't pretty for the Quakers.

Eastward expansion may be a top priority for Penn's Athletic Director, but there's more to Steve Bilsky's job than planning for the future. On Friday, he sat down with The Daily Pennsylvanian to talk about what's on his mind right now. Daily Pennsylvanian: Given what could possibly be a third straight losing season, are you concerned about the welfare of the football program? Steve Bilsky: I'm disappointed, because I think having a winning football program is not just important to us; I think it's important to the campus.

After losing so many close games despite playing great football, the Penn defense was fed up. But after a grueling battle with both offenses struggling to find their rhythm, the Quakers' defense finally took control and delivered a win, shutting out Princeton, 7-0, at Franklin Field on Saturday.

Missed opportunities. Penn men's soccer coach Rudy Fuller chose to describe the Quakers' performance this season in less than flattering terms. And, with too many missed opportunities, it appears that an Ivy League title and playoff berth are out of reach.

The Penn volleyball team has already beaten Harvard and Dartmouth. And, if they want to keep their title hopes alive, they will have to do it again this weekend. Two weeks ago, the Quakers swept Harvard and beat a strong Dartmouth team 3-1. "I think we should have beat Dartmouth in three the last time," freshman libero Madison Wojciechowski said.

Coming off a disappointing road loss and facing its most pivotal match of the year, one thing is clear to the Penn women's soccer team: There's no place like home. The Quakers (11-3-1, 4-1 Ivy) hope to feed off of the Rhodes Field crowd Saturday night with Princeton (8-6-1, 4-1) coming to town.

A championship is a championship, right? The Penn field hockey team (8-8, 4-2 Ivy) faces Princeton (12-4, 5-1 Ivy) this Friday for a share of the Ivy League title - a potentially small share. Penn, Cornell, Harvard and Columbia all enter their final Ivy game with a 4-2 league record.

Even 12 months after last year's double-overtime battle that ended with Princeton ahead by one, Penn captain Joe Anastasio still remembers the defeat like it was yesterday. "It definitely burns us," the senior linebacker said. "We wanted it a lot emotionally and it's definitely sticking out in our minds going into this weekend.

Noticing a pattern with these Yale games? No. 15 Yale (7-0, 4-0) at Brown (3-4, 2-2) Once again, it'll come back to Mike McLeod. There's been no mystery this year - Yale has relied heavily on its junior tailback in its 7-0 start to the season. At 3-4, Brown can't be labeled the Bulldogs' toughest test; that distinction belongs to Harvard, whom they'll meet in two weeks' time.

Even if Penn runs north-south tomorrow against Princeton, the hits will definitely be coming from the east - the Far East. Senior Doori Song, the first in his South Korean family to be born in the United States, is one of Princeton's best run-stoppers at inside linebacker.

Most people probably don't take ice baths or play Gatorade pong as part of their regular regimen. But Penn soccer players Alex Fairman, Ryan Porch, Johnny Elicker and Lee Rubenstein are no strangers to either of those. The four have known each other since middle school.

Princeton's Bill Foran knows how to make his mark on a football game. In last year's double-overtime victory over Penn he led the Tigers in rushing yards (with 84), recorded a couple of tackles on special teams and downed the ball inside the five late on a crucial punt.