For the seniors, it's the start of a new season. For the underclassmen, it's about building for the future.

After a disappointing 5-5 season, which has in effect eliminated it from any postseason possibilities, the No. 17 Penn State lacrosse team comes into tomorrow's 7 p.m. contest against Rutgers looking to kick off its new three-game season with a victory.

The Scarlet Knights (2-9, 0-2) come into the game against the Nittany Lions (5-5, 0-4) on a four-game losing streak. Both teams will be looking for their first ECAC wins of the year. The Lions will have their last opportunity to win an ECAC game, as this will be their fifth and final. They have lost their four ECAC games by a combined five goals, with three one-goal losses.

"That (winning an ECAC game) is really important," senior Sean Droogan said. "We definitely don't want to go throughout the ECAC without a win. It's disappointing to think we are even in that situation."

Disappointing is pretty much the word that can be used to describe the season. After a big overtime victory over Notre Dame in South Bend to kick off the season followed by two more routs of Fairfield and Air Force. It went downhill fast for the Lions as they lost their next four by a combined six goals, including three games at home. Now the season has just three games left and the Lions must go 2-1 to avoid their first losing season since 1985.

"We know exactly what the situation is we are in," Droogan said. "We've got to try and salvage the season and do the best we can and it starts with Rutgers this weekend."

The aspect of the game that the Lions have been struggling with recently has been faceoffs. Rutgers lead faceoff man Michael Schambach is at a 56 percent clip for the season and Rutgers is at 52 percent as a team. For the Lions, junior Rob Booth is at 52 percent on faceoffs, but the team is at just 47 percent for the season. They are only at 42 percent over their last four games.

"We got to win faceoffs," Penn State assistant coach Lars Tiffany said. "In the sport of lacrosse, unlike most sports, after the offense scores the other team doesn't get the ball. This season our faceoffs percentage has not been very good and recently it has not been good. Rutgers has a very good faceoff man."

The Lions have recently switched to a new type of attack off the faceoffs looking to grab a higher percentage.

"We have had our few good games early in the season," freshman Jesse Tarr said. "We have been struggling recently. We have been using a double pull, which is two long sticks on the wings on the faceoffs. It's usually me and Rob Bateman out there."

If the Lions are to avoid the team's first losing season in 17 years, those faceoffs must be a priority.