Starting off as a college athlete presents a unique set of challenges. While all new students deal with classic struggles such as meeting new friends and figuring out which classes can knock out the most requirements at once, varsity athletes have to balance their academics and social lives with early morning practices and long weekend road trips.

For many of Penn’s fall sports teams, there exists the recurring theme that youth plays a key role.

In a year marked by attrition and adversity, the Quakers fought hard for their 8-9 record in 2014. And this leaves the Red and Blue in a situation both exciting and precarious looking towards 2015, a year which could reasonably be marked by either further struggles or breakthrough.

And so it begins. Penn field hockey will kick off its 2015 campaign this weekend as it travels to Virginia to battle Liberty on Friday before facing Longwood Sunday afternoon. “You’re always going to have that.

Fresh off a successful season opener, Penn women’s soccer turns this weekend to games against Temple and Mount Saint Mary’s at Rhodes Field. The Quakers (1-0-0) will look to continue the strong offensive play that guided them to a 3-1 victory over Seton Hall last Sunday.

After nearly 10 months with no competition, Penn volleyball will suddenly find itself very busy this weekend. The Red and Blue will head down to Washington DC and Maryland to play four games in two days.

For just about everyone, college is about new experiences. A new city perhaps, new friends, new teachers. And for athletes, a whole new team filled with unfamiliar faces.

It’s no surprise that Penn women’s soccer has a lot of new faces. From a new class of freshmen to a sophomore transfer and, of course, a new coach, it’s easy to look around and see a bunch of new faces. “During the spring, we tried to see everyone we could,” coach Nicole Van Dyke said, describing her experiences meeting the new recruits during her own coaching transition.

On any given weekend afternoon at Rhodes Field, you’ll see women charging up and down the turf, bold red block letters branding “PENN” across their chests.

With most of last year’s team still intact, Penn sprint football coach Bill Wagner believes his squad can take a step forward from last season’s 4-3 performance. That is, if a few factors fall in the team’s favor.

As the offseason dwindled to a close this August, Penn men’s soccer coach Rudy Fuller noticed that, while the team was coming together nicely, something was missing. An X-factor.

Professional basketball player. Ivy League graduate. Philanthropist. Sock lover. Not exactly the bio one would expect to find for the typical Penn graduate.

A look at the Quakers' nonconference schedule.

It's been a busy summer for Brandon Copeland. Now almost three years removed from helping guide Penn football to its last Ivy League title, the former Red and Blue linebacker is still trying to make an NFL roster.

A DP Sports roundtable. Covering Penn Athletics ... with more personal pronouns.

Sunday was a day of firsts for Penn women’s soccer at Rhodes Field. First game of the 2015 season. First career goals for Sasha Stephens and Lauren Petite. First game for new coach Nicole Van Dyke.

For the highly elite players of Penn men’s soccer, four seasons in the Red and Blue does not mark the end of their soccer careers.