Senior captain Brianna Rano is the only remaining defender from that team’s back line, so she was a natural choice as a leader of the defense — or so it would appear.

Brandon Copeland, along with fellow linemen C.J Mooney and Taylor Brown, graduated, turning one of Penn’s top strengths into a definitive question mark as 2013 begins. But the new crew is brimming with confidence.

Penn is getting ready to take on No. 19 Georgetown, but for freshman Alec Neumann, the game is more important than just facing a ranked opponent. He is also facing his brother.

To the average football fan, such a play doesn’t get the heart racing too fast, but for coach Al Bagnoli, a run up the middle for a few yards is his lifeblood.

We asked Dan Davis about the pursuit of a fourth title, his musical choices, and what his secret talent is.

Three members of Penn cross country — sophomore Elyssa Gensib, senior Kersie Jhabvala and sophomore Brendan Smith — debate the question: Why is running so popular and yet watched so little?

American soccer has struggled in the past to compete seriously for World Cups. What is the outlook of Penn men’s soccer captains Duke Lacroix and Stephen Baker on the future of American domestic soccer talent?

Obviously field hockey conditions were not ideal, but the experience I had abroad more than makes up for not playing field hockey for a summer. I have come away from this summer humbled and cultured.

Being able to play football at such a prestigious university under a head coach who truly cared about his players and program was simply an offer I could not refuse.

It’s all too easy to forget about the hoops rivalry between Penn and Drexel these days, especially since it’s not an annual thing anymore. The Red and Blue will not square off with the Blue and Gold in 2013-14, just like they didn’t in 2011-12.

For Penn field hockey’s Helene Caniglia, going home and visiting the family doesn’t necessarily mean a break from athletics. The current junior midfield has four siblings, all of whom played or currently plays a sport in college.

Travis Pillon followed fellow Californian Sam Engs across the country to play for the Quakers.

The women’s volleyball team needed to use its annual Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West Penn Invitational to get back on track after a rough start to the 2013 season. After a 2-1 weekend with multiple five-set wins, the Quakers are definitely on the right path.

Two late goals doomed the Quakers in both contests this weekend, where they fell to Cal Poly, 3-2, on Friday night before losing to UCSB, 2-1, in double overtime two days later.

In their second game of the season on Friday, Penn delivered a forceful offensive performance against Saint Joseph’s. The impressive 5-2 victory was highlighted by a hat trick from speedy freshman Jasmine Cole. But on Sunday, the Red and Blue couldn’t get off to the same hot start, losing 2-1 to Bucknell

Penn women’s soccer maintained its perfect start to the season, but unlike last week’s pair of 4-0 victories, Penn had to battle for two 1-0 victories against local rivals.

In the first game of Penn’s men’s soccer’s west coast road trip, the Quakers had a chance to make an early statement against a formidable Cal Poly squad in an effort to move closer towards a top 25 ranking.