Lacrosse has been called the fastest game on foot. It's even faster when played on AstroTurf.

True to its reputation, the action will be lightning-quick this weekend when the men's lacrosse team hosts the third annual Penn State Indoor Invitational at Holuba Hall.

Penn State will face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow. That game will be followed by a matchup between Lehigh and Nazareth at 8 p.m. Sunday will feature the consolation game at 1:30 p.m. on the outdoor turf beside Holuba. The action will then move back inside Holuba for the championship at 5:30.

The Lions played the first four games of their season on the road and are 2-2 after losing to perennial powers North Carolina and Loyola. This weekend should provide an excellent chance to improve that record against an 0-2 Notre Dame team.

"Notre Dame is the only team we're positive we will play so we are preparing for them," senior attackman John Hollerbach said.

Senior midfielder Steve Graves said the Lions have to be considered a favorite in the tournament since they have won the last two years.

Lehigh lost to Penn State in the final game of last year's invitational but will return after losing only one starter to graduation.

Penn State was bitten by the graduation bug after last season and has felt the effects of losing eight of 10 starters. With 18 new players on the roster, Coach Glenn Thiel said the team is counting on young players in many key positions - including two freshmen goalies, J.J. Pearl and Jamie Morse.

"They are both equally good," Thiel said. "Both are capable of having a great day."

Thiel said he expected the young goalies to have problems clearing the ball from the defensive zone in pressure situations but that they seem to be handling the job well.

"We concentrate on the fast break," senior midfielder Tim Conway said. "We want to get the ball to the offense as soon as possible and capitalize on the unsettled situation."

Graves said Penn State has had a run-and-gun style since he's been here but this team's youth makes it difficult this season.

"We like to run the fast break but we have to use a little bit more controlled offense because we don't have a great one-on-one player to give the ball to," he said.