It's nine games into the 1997 women's lacrosse season, and for the first time Penn State coach Julie Williams feels as though her squad is playing as a team.

The No. 10 Lady Lions used tenacious defense, a balanced scoring attack and superb goal-keeping to post two wins this weekend. Penn State (5-4) defeated Lehigh, 15-2, on Saturday and Dartmouth, 12-9, yesterday.

"I have my team back. They're finally back," joked an ecstatic Williams after yesterday's game. "It's great to see."

She was referring to Penn State's slow early-season start, when it posted a disappointing 2-4 record.

Things have changed of late, however, as the Lady Lions have rattled off three straight wins, including two victories this weekend.

The first came at Bigler Field on Saturday against Lehigh (4-2), when Penn State jumped on the Engineers from the get-go. Senior Tam Crowe scored just 36 seconds into the game, opening the door for an offensive avalanche. Penn State proceeded to score 11 unanswered goals in the first half adding two more in the second half.

Crowe finished the game with two goals and two assist, while sophomore Emily Mechem also posted two goals and two assists.

Despite the high-octane offense, Williams was more impressed with her team's defense against Lehigh.

"I think we had a really nice game defensively, crunching them," said Williams. "If they tried to even get near the goal we were really all over them. It was great. That was probably the best part about today."

Lady Lion goalie Lauren Retzlaff recorded four saves, allowing only two goals.

Yesterday, the conditions switched from the artificial turf of Bigler to the natural grass of Jeffrey Field. The game against No. 9 Dartmouth(5-1) was the women's first appearance at jeffrey for a regular-season game in 16 years.

Once again, a quick start and solid defense contributed to the victory, as Penn State jumped on the Big Green early and held on for a 12-9 win.

It took Crowe 43 seconds to find the back of the net. Dartmouth tied the score at 1-1, but Allison McCall quickly gave the Lady Lions a 2-1 advantage six minutes into the game.

After that point, Penn State never relinquished the lead. Dartmouth tried to claw back into the game, but was continually shut down by Retzlaff, who recorded 13 saves on the day.

"I think she came up with key saves at key times in the second half," Dartmouth coach Jackie Keeley said.

The 13 saves didn't seem very important to Retzlaff who prefers to give credit to the defense.

"They were very good," said Retzlaff, "and that makes me look so much better."

Crowe and Mechem each posted career highs by notching four goals apiece.

Crowe added two assists, giving her seven goals and four assists in two games.

"It was a big game. The rest of the season is huge for us," Mechem said. "I think everybody was pumped up."