In retrospect, the field hockey team feels that its loss to No. 2 Iowa had some positive repercussions.
“I’m glad it happened now,” said junior defender Becca Main. “It could have hurt us much more later in the season. Now we can learn to recover.”
This recovery process should not be a strenuous one; the quality of play doesn’t get any better than last Sunday’s battle with Iowa. Both teams played flawless field hockey.
“It takes a highly competitive game to show you what you need to improve,” Main said.
So, to heed Main’s words, they need to carry some of that flawless field hockey down to Philadelphia as the No. 3 Lady Lions hike to Quakerland for an intrastate shindig with Pennsylvania.
Revenge may also be a motive for the Lady Lions because the Quakers knocked them out of the final four two years ago.
“I feel bad for them,” Main said. “We’re going to be going out there with a lot of aggression and frustration from Iowa. Two years ago they (UPenn) eliminated us from the final four, and there’s still some revenge lingering there.”
This revenge may spark the aggression that the Lady Lions unleashed on the Big Ten last weekend. In previous games, they were content to just sit back and see what the other teams had, and then try to adjust to it, Main said.
“I think we’ve realized that we are as competitive as anybody else,” said forward Danielle Annibale. “And from the first whistle we have to get to every ball. We are finally clicking as a team.”
The team has had problems passing between defenders and midfielders and between the midfielders and forwards. They have also grown into a habit of passing before they look for openings.
Annibale said that the team hopes to resolve these glitches before they square off with Iowa again next week. Beating Iowa would prove very little, however, if the Lady Lions do not make oatmeal of the Quakers.
“We cannot look past UPenn,” Annibale said. “That will be a big game for us; if we do, they will burn us.”
Every game has become a big game for the Lady Lions, they are ranked No. 3 in the nation and have become everybody’s team to beat.
“We are living up to our rank,” said Amy Stairs. “And we are trying to show everyone just who Penn State is, and what we are capable of.”
Once Penn State gains game experience and technique, it has the potential to win the conference and quite possibly the NCAAs.
But before they can take the conference and even think about returning to the final four, they must go one week at a time getting up for each game. UPenn is first on that agenda, and Main feels the Lady Lions are back on the prowl.