Penn hosts Boston U. in NCAA quarterfinal

It's déjà vu all over again for Penn's women's lacrosse team, which, for the second straight season, will need to get past Boston University to advance in the NCAA Division I tournament.

Last year, Penn defeated BU in first-round play. This year, after the Quakers knocked off Colgate, 16-7, in the first round, the Terriers, who beat New Hampshire, 16-8, will get a rematch against the No. 1-ranked Quakers, who are the second seed in the tournament.

It's also déjà vu in the sense that this year, while a home game for Penn, it's a bit of a home-away-from-home as the game will be played at Drexel's Vidas Field today at 1 p.m., since Franklin Field is being used for the school's commencement ceremonies. The two also played at an alternate site last year.

Both teams come in on hot streaks. The Quakers (15-1) enter today's match boasting a 13-game winning streak, its biggest victory an 11-7 defeat of then-No. 1 Northwestern. The Terriers (18-2) have won their last 15 games.

"Everybody is good and everybody can taste the same thing," Penn coach Karin Brower said. "It's going to come down to the team that wants it more and is more composed on that day."

The NCAA semifinals and championship game will be played at Johnny Unitas Stadioum at Towson (Md.) University next Friday and Sunday.

This weekend is a big one for lacrosse in Philadelphia area. Along with the Penn women gunning for an NCAA semifinal berth, West Chester's women (17-1) will meet C.W. Post (17-1) today for the Division II national title in Houston . . . Meanwhile, the defending Major Lacrosse League champion Barrage opens its 2008 season against the Washington Bayhawks at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Va., tomorrow at 2. *

- Kerith Gabriel