W. Soccer now at the Crossroads

As a freshman last year on the Penn women's soccer team, Katy Cross developed into an opposing goalkeeper's worst nightmare. She led the Quakers and the Ivy League in points, goals and assists.

While Cross continues her reign of dominance, another member of the Red and Blue with the same namesake -- freshman Carolyn Cross -- may have something to contribute herself.

In just her fourth game, the rookie from Williamsburg, Va., netted her first collegiate goal during the 34th minute of the first half against Monmouth. She is hoping her performance is a prelude of things to come.

"Hopefully I'll become a big part" of the offense, Cross said. "I want to prove that it wasn't a one time thing, by getting an assist or scoring or just creating chances."

She'll get the chance tomorrow against LaSalle.

The Explorers come to Rhodes Field sporting a 3-1-1 record. They are led by a potent trio on offense: Amy Schneider, Shannon Plunkett and Alexis Petrucci.

"I don't think we'll have a specific gameplan," Penn coach Darren Ambrose said regarding the Explorer's upfield trident. "I think we just need to stick to good defensive principles.

"We know the way they play, and we're just going to deny them the service that allows them to be successful," she said. "But we're not going to key on one of them."

If there is one striker on which to focus, it is Petrucci -- LaSalle's freshman phenomenon. Through five games, she leads the team in scoring with three goals, and promises to be a test for freshman goalkeeper Monica Silvestre, who has earned the starting nod over Vanessa Scotto.

Silvestre will be aided by a rapidly improving backfield.

"I think the [defense] stepped up a lot last weekend," Katy Cross said. "They let some flukey stuff by early in the season, but now they've got it together.

"It'll just take confidence and conviction."

With so much faith in the defense, Cross hopes to continue what she started last weekend when she scored three times over a two-game span.

Ambrose made it clear that the Quakers need to continue pushing the ball upfield.

"We've scored three goals in each of the last two games, so you have to be happy about that," he said. "But we could've scored three or four more in each game."

There's plenty of work to be done before 7-0 Penn victories become commonplace, but Ambrose has faith that such a day will come.

There may be growing pains for a squad whose largest demographic is wide-eyed freshmen, but with first- and second-year players receiving abundant playing time, the foundation is being laid for a future with seemingly limitless potential.

"Ask any collegiate coach in any sport -- you'll never see a freshman starting in football, or four or five freshmen starting in basketball," Ambrose said.

Team chemistry "is not something that you can expect to learn in three weeks. This year we may have to grind a few games out, but it's going to be a learning experience."

A learning experience that could pay big dividends.

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