The irony is almost uncanny. The field hockey team was eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the semifinals by North Carolina in 1990 and 1991, and it happened again this year.

But while the team came up short, one Lady Lion left New Jersey with the title that had since eluded Penn State players. In her first year as a Maryland assistant coach, former goalkeeper Michele Brennan (1988-1991) helped lead the Lady Terrapins to their second NCAA title Sunday.

It was Brennan who guarded the Lady Lion's cage when Carolina bested her and her teammates in 1990 and 1991. And here she was again -- same tournament, same opponent, but this time on a different team.

In the moments before the Lady Terrapins played their semifinal match, Brennan watched the closing of Penn State's final game. It was happening all over again.

"It's too bad that it came down to strokes between Penn State and North Carolina," Brennan said. "Penn State dominated 90 percent of the game . . . they definitely deserved it."

UNC bested the Lady Lions in a penalty stroke shoot-out to reach the finals, but Maryland had the last laugh by winning the title -- the exact same way.

"I just think it was very ironic," Penn State Coach Char Morett said. "It just proves more than anything else that anything can happen on any given day."

It was Brennan who contributed to the stellar performance of Maryland goalkeeper Irene Horvat. The former Lady Lion finally had her revenge on the Lady Tar Heels.

"I'm real happy for Michele," Morett said. "(Maryland) was very deserving of a national championship. I always felt after we played Maryland here and beat them 1-0 that they were one of the best teams in the country."

But despite the victory, Brennan said penalty strokes shouldn't decide championship matches. Like Morett, she favors another system -- one in which the team is gradually reduced in number but keeps playing.

"I think it's really hard on both the goalkeeper and the stroker," Brennan said. "I hate a game to come down to strokes."

Brennan knows the frustration her former teammates are going through. But she said just because the Lady Lions didn't win does not mean they aren't champions. And she should know better than anyone, having played alongside a number of them.

"They're extremely talented players and they can't be disappointed in one game," she said. "I believe they are fantastic -- they're extremely skilled, and incredible people. And I think they're champions just that way."

While the Lady Lions may view this past weekend with frustration, they can be comforted in the fact that one Lady Lion finally did it -- Brennan broke through.