F. Hockey | Looking for the last Laf

Two years ago, Lafayette's Maggie Condon, then a sophomore, picked up an unassisted tally against the Quakers.

As it turned out, that would be the Leopards' only goal over the schools' four meetings since 2004, all won by Penn.

They battle again tonight in Easton, Pa., and Penn coach Val Cloud has her sights on defending Condon, who received first-team All-Patriot League honors for her team-best 10 goals and six assists last year.

"She gets a lot of tips off of hits, so we have to pay more attention to her," Cloud said. "We don't have a standout like that, so it's easier to focus on a standout than a team that's just balanced."

This season, Condon has recorded 26 of her team's 53 total shot attempts - many off penalty corners - to go along with three goals in five games.

Junior Kathryn Burke said Penn's defense would likely gameplan against Condon by ensuring that she is constantly marked in dangerous scoring zones.

But the Quakers have to be careful not to let Condon divert too much of their attention, because Lafayette junior Kelly Hilovsky - whom Cloud labeled as another top scorer - actually leads the team with four goals, on just 10 total shots.

Last season, the Leopards hired a new coach, Andrew Griffiths, who rejuvenated the team after Ann Gold had spent 25 years at the helm.

"I think they're [now] more versatile in what they do," Cloud said. "It's not always predictable."

Cloud said her team was "a little lucky" to beat Lafayette, 1-0, last year because the match was played at Franklin Field.

She's not a fan of her home turf, saying that the surface makes accurate and smooth passes - and, therefore, rehearsing set plays - tricky.

"Sometimes it's hard for us to practice different corners, setting up options off of them," Cloud said. "But that's what we'll be working on."

Although the Quakers have had more corner opportunities than their opponents this season (42-33), they have struggled to capitalize on them.

Burke said the team has also been focusing on finding a way to come out of the gates strong. The Quakers have been outscored, 10-3, in the first period, but typically end strong, with a 5-1 goal advantage in the second half.

"We want to start off winning, not have to dig out of a hole," Burke said.

Cloud already tinkered with her lineup last weekend, and said she liked the results.

With the Ivy League opener against Cornell fast approaching, Cloud said a win tonight is important to build confidence and momentum.

"We're in a stage of still improving in our positions," Cloud said. "I hope [tonight] it might just come together."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.