Field hockey coach Val Cloud doesn't know what to expect from her team.
"The challenge is, I have a lot of talent, probably more talent than we've ever had before," Cloud said. "But it's like a puzzle, putting the right people in the right spot who play well together."
And there are a number of gaps in the starting lineup that need to be filled. The Quakers (9-8, 3-4 Ivy last year) graduated their top three scorers - All-American Lea Salese, Kristin Gray and Cara Calahan - from last season. The three combined for 20 of the team's 28 goals last season.
With the loss of Salese, who led scoring and dominated the midfield for the Quakers last year, one might think this would be a year of rebuilding.
But there are a number of younger players ready for starting roles, as well as a crop of freshmen, many of whom Cloud thinks will see playing time.
"This is the best freshman class I've ever had," Cloud said.
She noted that in a recent scrimmage against Princeton she used two of her freshman and that they played tough alongside the rest of the squad.
Another newcomer to Penn, but not to collegiate field hockey, is sophomore transfer Margaretha Ehert. She is expected to make an immediate impact in the midfield, as she will step right into a starting role.
A Philadelphia-area native, Ehert played last year at Virginia, starting in nine games and scoring one goal for the Cavaliers.
The three captains - goalie Elizabeth Schlossberg, defender Melina Tsui and forward Nyssa Liebermann - will lead the team this year.
Also returning are Meghan Rose - who led the team with seven assists - Nicole Levi and Melissa Black - who contributes to a solid defensive squad that has been nationally ranked in years past.
"Defense is about all 11 of them," Cloud said. "All of them have to play defense because that's where we score - working off that pressure."
But if opponents make it to the circle, Schlossberg is ready in the net. She is one of the best goalies in the league, allowing only 22 goals last season.
The team will meet its first group of challenges this weekend. They will participate in a tournament at the University of Delaware, taking on Big East powerhouse Syracuse on Saturday and Ohio State, ranked No. 15 in the preseason coaches' polls, on Sunday.
"I like to take those tough teams early on," Cloud said. "We're going to play hard regardless and learn from it."
The first home game will be against city rival Saint Joseph's on Sept. 6. Two days later, Penn will open its Ivy League schedule against Harvard at home.
"We're due with them," Cloud said of the Harvard team. "We've had too many close games in the past."
The Quakers have only five home games this season, compared to 10 away games, which will include a six-game road trip.
After placing fifth in the Ivy League last year, the team has set high goals for itself, looking to get back on top. The Quakers took the Ivy title in 2004.
"In the back of our minds there's the Ivy championship," Schlossberg said. "But we're paying special attention this year to taking one game at a time and not looking too far ahead."
But maybe if all of the right pieces come together in Cloud's puzzle, the result will be an Ivy championship.
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