With the 2001 season coming to an end, and with visions of Big Ten Championships and NCAA Tournament berths dancing in their heads, the players on the Penn State men's soccer team know that their work is not yet finished.

The No. 23 Nittany Lions (11-3-1) hope to fine-tune their game as they clash with Old Dominion (7-5-2) at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Norfolk, Va. The Lions have all but wrapped up the second seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, held Nov. 8-11 in Madison, Wis., but they have a greater goal in mind — a national championship.

Although the Big Ten champions will receive an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament, powerful teams such as No. 6 Indiana and last year's conference champion, Ohio State, could stand in the Lions' way. Their hopes for an invitation to the Big Dance may rest in a strong regular season showing.

"We just have to make sure we have a good win-loss record, so that means taking care of business (tomorrow)," Lions' head coach Barry Gorman said.

Can it really be that simple? Won't winning the Big Ten crown be crucial for the Lions' national championship aspirations?

"I don't think so, although I'm not on the NCAA committee," senior co-captain and All-American midfielder Derek Potteiger said. "But I'm thinking that we're not going to take any chances and just win it anyway."

Potteiger and his fellow seniors have achieved just about everything in their Nittany Lion careers except a championship, Big Ten or otherwise. They lost to Ohio State in overtime of the Big Ten championship game last year, and they have advanced as far as the national quarterfinals, but have little to show for their efforts.

After failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament last season the Lions know the value of winning as many regular-season games as possible, and they would like to end their year on a high note against the Monarchs tomorrow. They will bring a five-game unbeaten streak with them to Norfolk and take on a team that is barely above .500. Gorman said that his strategy for the game is simple.

"We have to sort of make sure that we're rested, we've got to make sure that we're sharp, and we've got to make sure that we're not carrying any injuries into the final game and obviously the postseason," Gorman said.

Potteiger's knees could be a concern for the Lions as the season draws to a close. The midfielder went down twice in the Lions' 1-0 victory over Lehigh on Wednesday after he collided with opposing players. Both times he received ice on the sidelines but returned to action.

Potteiger's left knee was studded by one of the Mountain Hawks' cleats early in the second half, but the injury did not appear serious. The Mechanicsburg native also said that he still has some minor aches and pains in his right knee, stemming from an injury suffered against Michigan State on Oct. 21.

"I'm just kind of playing through this one," Potteiger said.

Potteiger's presence in the lineup will be crucial as the Lions' postseason play begins.