It beat the toughest team on its schedule last weekend, so this should be a cakewalk.

The No. 18 Penn State men's soccer team (2-2) will host the Penn State Nike Classic this weekend. The Nittany Lions open tonight at 7:30 against Villanova (2-2, 0-1 Big East) and then play American (3-1) Sunday at 3 p.m., both at Jeffrey Field.

These are both games the Lions are capable of winning, but must come ready to play.

"We try not to look past this weekend," Penn State men's soccer assistant coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "We are focusing on Villanova and a new bag of fish to fry."

Both the Wildcats and Lions come into tonight's matchup sporting .500 records, something both coaches admit they are better than.

"[Penn State] is a good team," Villanova men's soccer coach Larry Sullivan said. "We have our work cut out for us."

Making the Wildcats' task more difficult is the fact that tonight will be their third game in five days, something Sullivan knows will play a factor.

The Lions also appear to have found offensive threats besides forward Chad Severs, who was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.

Also garnering recognition was captain Brent Jacquette, who was named to the Soccer America National Team of the Week.

"It is crucial to spread the scoring around, other teams know they have to stop Severs," LeBlanc said. "[Joe] Zewe and [Pasi] Karppinen need to continue to score goals for us and take the pressure away from Severs."

The Lions' offense is going to be tested tonight against a Wildcat unit that prides itself on defense, but must play both sides of the ball.

"We have to match [Penn State] and play with them," Sullivan said. "We have to go after the goal and get our share of the ball. If we can do that we can be competitive, if not we will get blown out of the water."

For that to happen, the Lions know they must step up and play better than they have been.

"We have a lot of room for improvement," LeBlanc said.

"Villanova is going to be a feisty team and they are out to upset us, we must be careful."

Careful not only tonight, but in Sunday's matchup against a very talented Eagles squad as well.

The Eagles come in riding a high after their victorious 1-0 double-overtime thriller against Boston College last Sunday.

In the three Eagles wins this season, they have outscored their opponents 10-0, although those games were all at home.

For the Lions to be successful they must stop the Eagles' duo of Andrew Herman and Peter Philipakos, who both have eight points thus far this season.

Regardless of what the other team throws on the field, the Lions will be ready.

"These are two games we should win," LeBlanc said.

In order to do that, the Lions must execute and not underestimate either of their opponents.

If they play as they did against Virginia they can put two victories on the board in one weekend for the first time all season.