With only four regular season games remaining, it's crunch time for the Penn State men's soccer team.

The No. 24 Nittany Lions (8-3-1) will face Hartwick (7-6) tonight at 7 at Jeffrey Field in their first home contest in nearly three weeks. The team will then travel to Washington, D.C. to play American University (6-6-1) at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Lions won a crucial game last weekend in East Lansing, beating Michigan State 1-0 in double-overtime. The victory allowed them to climb back into the national rankings and solidified their second-place spot in the Big Ten Tournament, but the team's regular-season objectives are far from accomplished.

"We're in the Big Ten Tournament but we're far from being in the NCAA Tournament," junior defender Jorma Makipaa said. "We have to keep our focus on that."

The Lions failed to reach the NCAA tourney in 2000 partly because of a lackluster finish to the regular season, culminating with a 3-1 loss to Hartwick in Oneonta, N.Y. Now, the Hawks are coming to Jeffrey Field and will again try to play the role of spoiler.

"They pretty much killed our hopes of making the NCAA Tournament last year, so that will be in the back of our minds," Makipaa said.

Lions head coach Barry Gorman said that he has warned his players in practice this week not to underestimate either of their upcoming opponents.

"It's a David and Goliath-type predicament," Gorman said. "It's small school versus large school, in both cases. (American and Hartwick) have excellent soccer programs and excellent soccer traditions."

Penn State has only faced American once before, but Hartwick is a traditional rival and the teams have played each other in six straight seasons. The Hawks own a 13-5-4 all-time record against the Lions. Penn State will have a new weapon on their side this season with the addition of freshman sensation Chad Severs. The Ocean City, N.J. native leads the team with four goals (along with teammate Ken Lear) and is second on the squad in shots, points and assists. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal against the Spartans last Sunday, his second game-winner of the year.

Another Lion, junior goalkeeper Ryan Sickman, was honored as the conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his two shutouts against Ohio State and Michigan State. Sickman, who has spent much of 2001 on the bench behind sophomore keeper Eric Earnhardt, gained a starting spot in the net last week and came up big in both wins. Sickman recorded 12 saves in the two victories, including seven against the Spartans.

"Ryan and Eric are pretty even this year, in terms of ability" Gorman said. "They're both capable and we're comfortable with starting either in goal."

Gorman also hopes to start two midfielders and All-American candidates this weekend, senior Derek Potteiger and junior Brent Jacquette. Both sat out portions of the Michigan State game with knee injuries.

Gorman said that both players have been treated during the week and neither seems to be seriously injured. MRI tests have shown Potteiger's ailments to be simply swelling, and Jacquette has been bothered by nagging minor knee injuries all season.

"We're letting their injuries heal just as a precaution," Gorman said. "Both of them should be fine."