Lethal Big Red attack awaits in Ithaca

Penn has the signature win against Duke and the Ivy League win against Princeton.

With these two upsets and four wins overall, the Quakers have gotten their taste of Charlie Sheen’s proverbial, “Winning.”

But the Red and Blue (4-2, 1-0 Ivy) travel to Cornell (5-2, 1-0) this weekend seeking the victory they have yet to secure — the road win.

Just a week after the Quakers drew Tiger blood in a rivalry matchup with Princeton — which kept Penn unbeaten at home — they’ll now have to travel to face another of the Ancient Eight’s staunchest opponents in the Big Red.

The Quakers take on No. 7 Cornell, which boasts the reigning Trumbull Award winner for the nation’s best attack in Rob Pannell. The junior leads the nation with 5.33 points per game. Penn hopes to maintain its home field habits as best as possible — even changing the pre-game logistics slightly to mimic the timing before home games.

And why shouldn’t the Quakers want to replicate everything from home? They’ve posted a 4-0 record at Franklin Field, outscoring opponents, 30-18.

“We really need our first road win,” defenseman Maxx Meyer said. “It’s going to give us the confidence we can win outside ‘The Frank,’ as we call it in the locker room.”

Meyer, who just picked up Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors and was named the fifth best freshman in the country by Inside Lacrosse, is a crucial part of the defensive unit responsible for dealing with Pannell.

Leading Cornell with 19 goals and 21 assists, last year’s unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year is a threat with or without the ball.

“We’re not going to try to limit his touches per se the way a basketball team might with a point guard,” Penn coach Mike Murphy said. “He’s going to have the ball a lot, and that’s okay. We just can’t let him do what he wants.”

Penn senior Brett Hughes will get the assignment to mark Pannell on man-up opportunities, having played against the junior last year.

Another key member of the Quakers’ defensive unit, goaltender Brian Feeney, will be getting his first look at Pannell in person.

“[Pannell] puts his pants on the same way anybody else does, one leg at a time,” Feeney said. “[Penn attack] Al Kohart shoots one of the fastest shots in college ball, so I’m not really afraid of how fast Rob can shoot it.”

The freshman Feeney is certainly no stranger to being under the gun, having to practice with the likes of Kohart and senior classmate Corey Winkoff, who have engineered the Penn offense all season.

Kohart has netted 10 goals this year, while Winkoff has fed his teammates nine assists — both team highs.

With 77 career assists, Winkoff will move into sole possession of fourth place on Penn’s all-time list with his next helper.

But as much as the senior tandem contributes on the offensive end, their ability to take the load off a young defense may be just as important.

“It’s comforting,” Meyer said. “If we make a stop, we know that they’re going to be able to put one in, or slow the game down if we need to, or pick the pace up.”

Murphy agreed, calling the two seniors “settling influences.”

The Quakers will certainly need such an influence if Murphy’s other assertion is correct.

“Cornell is, in my opinion, one of the best quick-starting teams in the country,” Murphy said. “That’ll be a challenge, but I think we’re up to it.”

In its two losses this season, Penn has dug itself a hole early in the game. On the other hand, in two victories against ranked opponents, the Quakers have dominated early on defense — ceding just one goal combined in the first halves against Duke and Princeton.

Another fast start capped off with a win would make team feel right at home.

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