Entering the contest, the Nittany Lions (7-3-1, 3-1-1 Big Ten) hold a slim advantage over the Spartans (8-2-1, 3-1-0 Big Ten) in the conference standings. The Lions are currently clinging onto the second spot in the Big Ten behind juggernaut Indiana, with Michigan State nipping at the Lions' heels.

Sunday's game could determine the second seed in this year's Big Ten Tournament. The match will be Penn State's last against a conference opponent, while the Spartans have only Wisconsin left on their Big Ten slate.

"It's a big game, and it's in their place. We know they beat Ohio State 3-0 and we only tied them (Ohio State)," Lions' midfielder and Hermann Award candidate Ricardo Villar said.

Penn State is in fact coming off of a 0-0 double-overtime tie against the Buckeyes last weekend, which tossed the Lions from the NSCAA/adidas national rankings. Meanwhile, the Spartans are unbeaten in their last five and have outscored opponents 10-3 in their last three contests.

"We've been playing pretty well offensively lately," Michigan State head coach Joe Bauer said. "We don't really have a star player so we've just got to create chances and we should have a pretty good shot on Sunday."

The Spartans may not have a bona fide superstar, but they are certainly not lacking in talent. Sophomore midfielder Jeff Krass was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in victories over Oakland and intrastate rival Michigan last week. Krass, the Spartans' fourth-leading scorer, notched two goals in the two games, including the game-winner against the Wolverines.

While Michigan State's roster features some proven scorers, Bauer named one of Penn State's offensive weapons as a concern for his squad.

"I think Derek Potteiger is a great player," Bauer said. "He did a lot of damage against us last year, and we'll have to contain him if we want to win."

Potteiger, a senior midfielder and team co-captain, scored the deciding goal last year as the Lions ousted Michigan State from the 2000 Big Ten Tournament, 2-1. The All-American candidate led his team in scoring last year and was second in the conference with 32 points.

This year, however, Potteiger has tallied just two goals all year and has not scored since the Lions' 5-0 romp over Villanova on Sept. 6. The rest of the Penn State offense has sputtered as of late also, registering only one goal in their last two games.

"We've been getting the chances, but we haven't been putting them in," Villar said of his team's offensive woes. "We have good finishers like Derek, (freshman forward Chad) Severs, and me. But keepers have been making great saves. It's one of those things where you just have to keep battling through until it works."