"I think we look really good and I'm really excited," junior co-captain B.J. Lucey said. "I think that all the time that we've spent practicing has been very productive, and we're ready."
Although the campus will be fairly vacant because of the break, the team is still excited to open up the season at home, and Lucey said it should still be an advantage.
"I think it's awesome to open up at home, especially for the freshman," she said. "They get the chance to have their first real game at home, and even though its over spring break, a lot of alumni are coming back. I think that will be great."
The alumni will be in town to help honor the memory of former Penn State All-American Diane Whipple, who passed away in January after a dog attack outside her home in San Francisco.
A special reception will be held following tomorrow's game, and former players, coaches, and current team members will have an opportunity to pay their respects.
"I think it's going to be an emotional day," head coach Suzanne Weinberg said. "I think it will be good for everybody to be together. It was such a big part of Diane, and it's an experience we all share."
The alumni will also get the opportunity to watch the Lions take on Cornell, who lost just one starter from last year's team that finished with a 13-4 record. The Bears return their top three scorers from last season, including school record holder Lori Wohlschlegel and All-American Jaimee Reynolds.
"We don't know much considering they haven't played any games," Lucey said. "All we know is what they did last year. They're a good team, and we can't take them lightly."
The Lions also can't brush off JMU. The Dukes finished with a third-place ranking last season, compiling a record of 13-5 and losing to Princeton in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament.
"They've always been a really fast team, and they always put up a good fight," junior Molly Ford said. "When I was a freshman we beat them, and last year we didn't. It's always been back and forth, so it should be a tough one for us."
However, the Lions faced what could be considered a different team in the 11-18 loss last season. JMU lost seven starters to graduation, including four All-Americans and the National Midfielder of the Year.
"I think James Madison is still going to be tough team, even with losing seven players," Weinberg said. "They're a team that, year in and year out, are good and competitive."
But, regardless of what level the competition is at, one thing is for sure. Penn State feels confident that they can adjust to whatever it comes into contact with in its first two contests.
"I know that we're ready to play games and ready to start right now, and that it isn't going to take a couple of games to get into it," Lucey said. "We're ready to start the season with a bang."
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