After the storm that came through Happy Valley last weekend in the form of losses to Indiana and South Carolina, along with a loss to Akron earlier in the week, the No. 17 Penn State men's soccer team is looking to pick up the pieces and get back on track.

The Lions (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) head to Evanston, Ill., for a 5 p.m. match tonight against Northwestern (0-10, 0-2 Big Ten) and then head to Madison, Wisc., for a 3 p.m. showdown with Wisconsin (6-3-1, 1-0 Big Ten).

If the two Big Ten games aren't enough of a problem, the Nittany Lions are in the midst of a goalkeeper controversy.

After surrendering five goals in Penn State's losses to Akron and Indiana, redshirt sophomore Ryan Sickman was relegated to back-up duty in the South Carolina game as freshman Eric Earnhardt was given the start.

Although Earnhardt performed adequately in the 1-0 loss to South Carolina, goalkeeper coach Kevin Doyle says that the starter for the Northwestern game will be named just before the whistle blows.

"Eric has played a game so we can't redshirt him now so were going to use him," Doyle said. "Ryan and Eric are on an even plain now and I'm comfortable with putting either one of them in."

Despite playing every minute of the season for the Lions prior to the South Carolina game, Sickman says he doesn't question the move that Doyle made and he is working on fixing the problems that resulted in his demotion.

There could be no better way to work out the kinks between the posts and exercise the demons of a three game losing streak than playing the winless Wildcats of Northwestern.

Don't tell that to Northwestern coach Michael Kunert because he sees this game as a chance to turn the club around.

"We expect to play well and at least to a level that we can stay with them (Penn State)," the 19-year coach said. "This game could give us more of an incentive for the rest of the season."

On Saturday, the Lions will make the 150-mile trip north for their Sunday match against the Badgers who are coming off a win against Ohio State, which was ranked No. 23 at the time.

Wisconsin coach Kalekeni Mtalika Banda isn't worried about Penn State being hungry for a win this weekend and he says they are preparing as they would for any other team.

"My philosophy is to focus on our team and not the opponent," Banda said. "We'll be ready to withstand everything that Penn State brings."