Lafayette's last-second 8-7 victory over Penn last year, which was as ugly as it was close, showed that the Leopards are not the flashiest of football teams. They play a slow-paced game, and their big, bruising offensive line is crucial in their run-first, run-second scheme.

Playtime's over. While the rest of the Ivy League is enjoying another Saturday of tuneups against non-conference foes, Harvard, Brown, Yale and Cornell kick off their Ivy League seasons this weekend. More interestingly, tomorrow looks to be a "Separation Saturday" of sorts.

The leaves are turning and the likes of Harvard are coming down to Rhodes Field in Philadelphia. It's a sign that women's soccer has entered that time of the year when there's no turning back - the gauntlet of Ivy League play. Coming off Penn's first outright Ancient Eight championship, the players are well aware of the added importance.

These Quakers certainly like their drama. Despite trailing, 24-0, at the half after a woeful opening two quarters, Penn fought back with a furious second-half rally, ultimately falling to Lafayette, 24-17. Quarterback Rob Curley led the Leopards, completing 12 of 22 passes for 163 yards and three first-half touchdowns.

Sophomore setter Megan Tryon beamed with excitement in anticipation of the volleyball team's road trip this weekend. She is finally going home. The trip will be extra special for Tryon and eight of her teammates because they all hail from California. This weekend they will have the rare chance to play in front of their parents, giving them more fans than they usually have at the Palestra.

The men's soccer team may be undefeated and riding a seven-game shutout streak, but they're looking for more: local bragging rights. The Quakers take on their first Philadelphia Soccer Seven opponent this Sunday when they travel to Ambler, Pa., to play Temple.

Penn starting defensive tackle Drew Goldsmith knows a thing or two about going up against his brother, Neil. They were playing the computer game Diablo when, at the ripe age of seven, Drew revealed his inner Diablo. He flung his younger sibling into a wall, knocking Neil out cold for several minutes.

It's been a while -- three weeks and seven games, to be precise - since the Penn field hockey team last picked up a win. But after the Quakers' strong start in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Villanova, they feel another victory could finally be heading their way as they host Harvard (2-4, 1-0 Ivy League) at Franklin Field tomorrow.

For the first time since the Penn field hockey team's season opener, starting off strong wasn't a problem. Although coach Val Cloud didn't put peppers in their socks, the Quakers got on the scoreboard first. They passed more effectively and generated more chances.

For weeks, Penn women's soccer coach Darren Ambrose has been preaching that his team must play at a high level for a full 90 minutes. Senior Molly Weir appears to have taken that message to heart. With 22 seconds left in yesterday's match against University of Maryland, Baltimore Country - and Penn already ahead 3-0 - Weir ran at full speed after a pass down the right side.

With so much attention bestowed on Penn quarterback Robert Irvin and his backup-slash-punter Kyle Olson, most people have probably forgotten about junior Brendan McNally. McNally saw some snaps in five games last year as the second-stringer to then-senior Bryan Walker.

Goalkeeper Drew Healy has a simple formula that has propelled the Quakers - the only Division I team that hasn't been scored upon - to early-season heights. "If you don't give up goals, you don't lose," said Healy, the reigning Ivy League Player of the Week.

It's finally here: The Athletic Department has released the Penn men's basketball schedule for the 2008-09 season. Most matchups come as no surprise. The Daily Pennsylvanian has been reporting details of the schedule since mid-July as other teams released their slates.

Penn men's soccer coach Rudy Fuller has a bad taste in his mouth. A year and a six-game shutout streak have done little to wash it out. Tonight, he hopes to find his Listerine: A win against Penn State (2-4-2) at Rhodes Field. Last season, the Quakers suffered a bitter 3-2 loss at University Park, Pa.

Its final tuneup before Ivy League play begins on Saturday, the women's soccer team improved to 3-3-1 with a dominating 3-0 shutout over UMBC (1-9-0). Kristin Kaiser started the scoring at 25:52 with a rebound off a shot that was deflected by a UMBC defender.

"Shoulders, shoulders, get your shoulders!" Penn strength and conditioning coach Jim Steel bellowed. Clipboard in hand, Steel marked down the members of the football team as they entered the weight room and began their lifting routine. Practice wasn't over when the team jogged off the Franklin Field turf.

Penn goalkeeper Drew Healy posted his seventh-straight shutout and Alex Grendi, Andrew Ferry and Kevin Unger all scored as the men's soccer team rolled to a 3-0 victory over Penn State at Rhodes Field last night. The win is redemption for last season's bitter double-overtime loss at University Park, Pa.