If there's one thing the women's lacrosse team can count on its offense for, it's balance.

The Nittany Lions have a good mix of speed, confidence, and defensive skills, as well as an even distribution of scoring ability across its attack.

And that, according to head coach Suzanne Weinberg, should be a winning formula.

"I think one of our strengths is going to be that they are well-rounded athletes," she said. "Every person is capable of scoring and is a big threat, and I don't think the opposition can key in one player."

In fact, last season's top scorers, Julie Tice, Jenn Webb, and Christine Kenney, who were responsible for 162 of the team's 312 points last season, graduated. Therefore, the beginning of this season marks a wide-open opportunity for a standout scorer to emerge as the Lions look to improve on last season's 8-9 record.

"I might be able to after a few games," Weinberg said about identifying a single playmaker on the attack. "But, right now, I don't think I can do that."

For now, the Lions will look to four returning starters who will bring experience and skill to the revamped offense, and a single freshman who should make an immediate impact.

Sophomore Colleen O'Hara, juniors Molly Ford and B.J. Lucey, and senior Carey Bush have been working with freshman Katie Jeschke through seven weeks of preseason preparation.

"We have come a long way," Weinberg said. "They read each other well and create things for each other. That's also something I expect to get better and better as we move along."

The player Weinberg will count on to lead the offense in that direction is Lucey, who will serve as co-captain this season along with goalie Megan Ames. Although Lucey is a midfielder, she possesses the ability to take control at both ends of the field.

"She's definitely one of the leaders," Weinberg said of Lucey, who finished last season fifth in team scoring with 27 goals and four assists. "She's consistent, she's fast, and she's so skilled. She's the one we want out there most of the game."

Along with Lucey, Ford is another player who has stepped up her play. Last season she finished with 26 goals and 11 assists, and Weinberg said she's in on track to make an even bigger impact this year.

"She's playing so well right now," Weinberg said. "She's strong and fast and has great skills, so she's definitely someone we look to."

The Lions will also look to Jeschke who, although untested in collegiate competition, made a huge mark during her career at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City, Md.

"She comes from one of the best high school programs in the country," Weinberg said. "She definitely doesn't play like a freshman. She has confidence, great stick skills, and she's a great shooter."

Along with the prospective starters, Weinberg said that she has a deep bench of able scorers that she won't hesitate to use in order to wear down the opposition.

"Not every team can have fresh legs at the end of the game," she said. "I am confident to pull people off the bench, and that's a good thing for a coach to be able to do."

So, using a mixture of starters and substitutes, Penn State will run an offense that takes advantage of fast break opportunities.

"Offensively, we're aggressive," Weinberg said. "We take it to the goal and go hard."

However, the Lions will also concentrate on executing specific plays that allow the team to slow things down and protect the ball.

"Its nice to settle things down," Ford said. "Our coaching staff came up with some really good plays this season. If we set those up, and execute them, it should work out really well."

So, after all the preparation and the weeks of preseason drills, the attack is eagerly awaiting the chance to test out its plays on Cornell when the season opens Saturday at home.

"We're all on the same page, and we're really excited to play, not just as an offense but as a team," Ford said. "Since preseason has been so long, we look really good. We're definitely ready."