After suffering one-goal losses in its last two games, the soccer team will try to regain its strength against Temple in its last regular- season home game at 7:15 tonight at Jeffrey Field.
"As a senior, that's the last home game and I want to go out with a win," co-captain Jan Skorpen said.
Penn State will be without sophomore goalie Kurt Merrill, who voluntarily left the soccer team to concentrate on academics. Merrill started 14 of 18 games this year. He was not in uniform Tuesday night against Cleveland State.
According to a press release, Merrill will not be with the team for the rest of the season, but will be a candidate for next year's team if he is making satisfactory academic progress.
"Obviously, it's disappointing," Coach Barry Gorman said. "But we feel that academics must come first and we will do everything on our part to help (him)."
Mike Imm, a freshman who started four games, will take the over in the cage for the Lions.
Temple (7-5) could use a win as it fights for a spot in the Atlantic 10 Conference playoffs. Rutgers guaranteed itself a playoff spot by going undefeated in the Eastern division. Temple, Rhode Island, St. Joseph's and Massachusetts are vying for the remaining spot.
Since all four teams have 2-2 records in their A-10 games, the selection for the open spot will be based largely on overall records.
"They're obviously going to look for putting a feather in their cap," Gorman said. "The Temple game is one of those rivalries. It's always going to be fiercely contested."
The Lions received an automatic berth to the A-10 playoffs because they are undefeated in their A-10 competition.
Kennedy Torres and Scott Rieber lead the Owls in scoring with 10 points each. Torres knocked in five goals, while Rieber tallied four goals and two assists this season.
Freshman goalie Pat Kivoin has posted two shutouts in nine games. He holds a 1.22 goals against average.
After being ranked seventh in the nation in preseason, the Lions (7- 9-2) are in need of a win. With victories over Temple, Bucknell and in the playoffs, the team would end up with a winning season. If the Lions fall to Temple, the best record they could post is .500.
The Lions have not had a losing season in 19 years.
Although Penn State has not lost by more than one goal in seven of its nine losses, the team has suffered scoring problems all year.
"We've been doing a lot of shooting in practices to try and improve our shooting," Gorman said. "It's just a matter of plugging away at it."
"I think you just have to play as a team (and) to move up and down as a team," said Skorpen, the Lions' top scorer (16 points).
Skorpen added that the team needs to get a little more support around the ball and to "be a little explosive."
Penn State may need to rely on some of its younger players for scoring, with its second and third leading scorers possibly out of the lineup. Midfielder Danny Kelly broke his toe in Tuesday night's game and forward Steve Frantz is doubtful to play because of an ankle injury. Defender Trevor Scanlon, recovering from a knee injury, also will not play in tonight's game.
"For some of them (the younger players), it's going to be a great opportunity ," Gorman said. "We'll find out quickly if they can handle playing Division I."
Penn State leads the series, 33-15-8. This year, both teams have played Philadelphia Textile. Temple fell to Philadelphia Textile, 3-2, while the Lions tied the team, 1-1.
