After winning seven straight games, Penn State men’s lacrosse team has dropped its last two.
The Lions hope to end this new streak on the road when they play unranked Bucknell at 7 tonight.
The Lions have dropped from No. 8 to No. 15 in the Division I lacrosse poll, and have put themselves in a must win situation for the rest of the season. Every game has become a big game for the Lions if they hope to be the first Penn State men’s lacrosse team to make an appearence in the Northeast Regional Tournament.
“We’re fired up and need a win to keep the dreams alive,” said attack Pete Makover. “We’re (Bucknell’s) biggest game, and now we’ve got to make them ours.”
Penn State has won the last two times these teams have met. Two years ago when Penn State played at Bucknell, the Lions slid by with a 9-8 win.
“The last time we played there, (Bucknell) played a realy scrappy game and gave us fits,” said Coach Glenn Thiel. “We’ve got to play our game, and do it well.”
Bucknell’s field is poorly lit and in bad condition, said Thiel. The Lions are a fast-paced team, and poor conditions hinder their style, but Thiel is confident that the Lions can play their game and play it well. To do that Thiel said that they have to take control early and maintain it throughout the game.
“We want to show our dominance early,” said attack Jamie Morse. “The longer they think they’re in the game, the better chance they have of making it a close one, and we don’t want that — we’re going to have to shut them down early.”
Thiel said that Bucknell has a large physical defense and a good attack, but feels his team has yet to be outmatched, and doesn’t feel Bucknell will be any different. Morse agreed.
“We practice against a physical defense every day, and we will prove that we have a stronger attack (than Bucknell),” he said.
The Lions made one major move — Pete Makover was moved from midfield to attack.
“It was a good move for me,” said Makover, “I have been having back troubles. I am comfortable there, and am confident that I my performance will improve.”
Thiel said that Makover’s move will greatly help the team, and that Mike Busza will be ready to back up Makover, and hopefully give the Lions the strong finish that they have been missing for the last couple of games.