M. Lax looks to strengthen its resume

It may be six weeks late, but spring break has finally arrived for the Penn men's lacrosse team -- figuratively speaking, of course.

After trudging through the meat of its schedule while Penn students were partying in Cancun and Miami, the Quakers (9-2, 4-2 Ivy) are finally getting a break of their own. This weekend, they play host to the worst team in arguably the worst conference in Division I lacrosse.

Indeed, Robert Morris enters the game winless in five tries in Colonial conference play, and is an abysmal 1-11 overall.

Still, this game is meaningful for the Quakers. In fact, it could be Penn's most important game of the season so far.

With a 4-2 conference record, the Quakers likely will not earn the Ivy League's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament -- though Penn is not mathematically eliminated just yet.

Thus, the Quakers' final two non-conference games are critical for their chances at an NCAA Tournament berth. To do this, the bulk of their work must be impressive, and a loss to a not-so-great squad could dash the team's chances.

"If we lose this game, we're not going to the playoffs," Penn coach Brian Voelker said. "If we win this week, we'll look very good to the committee. And if we win our next two games, we're a lock to get in."

While Penn's chances at earning the conference's automatic bid rely more on Princeton's performance than on its own, the Quakers still control their ability to earn one of the tournament's ten at-large bids.

"With a win this weekend, we can help to control our own destiny, and not put our fate into the hands of others," Voelker said.

For the seniors, it will be their final game played at Franklin Field in a Penn uniform.

And for the entire Penn team, a victory over Robert Morris on Sunday will improve their record to 10-2 on the season -- before they travel to face No. 3 Maryland in the season finale.

The last time a Quakers team earned 10 victories in a season was in 1988, when they finished 11-4.

"It means a tremendous amount [to get 10 wins]," senior co-captain D.J. Andrzejewski said. "This year, everything seems to be falling in line, and a win this week would just be one more step."

Still, earning its 10th victory, albeit an accomplishment in itself, is merely a means to an end for Penn -- the end being the NCAA Championships, which will take place at Lincoln Financial Field right here in Philadelphia.

"Our ultimate goal is to get to the tournament," Andrzejewski said.

With two games left in the season, the key is for Penn to increase its defensive intensity.

"We need to get back to where we were earlier in the season," Voelker said. "During the last three games, we have not done a very good job defensively."

If this past week's practice is any indication, Penn's defense should perform well on Sunday.

"We have had a very hard week of practice," Andrzejewski said. "As a team, we've definitely picked up the intensity."

With a strong showing on Sunday, Anderzjewski and the Quakers will move one step closer to their final goal.

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