Three weeks into the season, the Penn State men's soccer team may have more questions than answers.

Following their third loss of the season Sunday, the Nittany Lions will be going back to the drawing board.

Penn State's biggest concern heading into this weekend was which defense would show up. Would it be the defense that surrendered two goals to second-tier Richmond or would it be the defense that stifled the offense of College Cup contender Virginia?

Penn State assistant coach Marlon LeBlanc said the team looked lethargic in its loss to an underdog American University team.

"We still haven't toughened it up. We're too soft," LeBlanc said. "In comparison to past Penn State teams, we're certainly real soft right now and that's the major problem with our defense."

The Lions allowed only three shots Friday night en route to a 2-1 victory over Villanova, but gave up two goals in yesterday's loss to American.

"We can't lose games like this if we're going to be serious contenders," LeBlanc said.

Nineteen minutes into the match, sophomore forward Peter Philipakos knocked through the Eagles' first goal, a kick that Penn State sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Moate just nicked.

"I'll take the blame for it," said a dejected Moate. "I got a hand on it, and when you get a hand on it, you have to make the save."

Though senior Ryan Sickman, who earned 2001 second-team All-Big Ten accolades, is the Lions primary netminder, Moate received his fourth start of the season against American.

"Moate deserved a chance," LeBlanc said. "They're both good goalkeepers. They have their strengths and weaknesses, but both deserve their chance."

LeBlanc said he's confident in the players Penn State has on the field.

"We know we're putting the right 11 guys on the field," he said. "It's just a matter of them believing in themselves."

Though the team morale received a boost after upending heavily-favored Virginia last weekend, the poise didn't carry over to this weekend. LeBlanc said at times the team's chemistry is great, while at other times, the team just doesn't click.

"We're not putting out 90 minutes of solid soccer," he said. "We played for about 20 minutes on Friday night because that's all that was demanded of us. The truth of the matter is we get sucked into playing at the other team's level."

Junior goalkeeper Eric Earnhardt no longer with team

Missing from the Penn State roster is junior Eric Earnhardt, who heading into the season was expected to split playing time with Sickman.

Though not with the team, Earnhardt attended both games this weekend.

"It just didn't work out," said Earnhardt, the starting goalkeeper for nine games last season.

Earnhardt did not comment on why he is no longer with the team.

"I just thought it'd be better if I didn't play," he said.

LeBlanc also declined to comment on why Earnhardt is not playing.

"Eric is here as a fan," he said. "He's still friends with the guys and everything, but he's not on the team."

Last season, Earnhardt posted three consecutive shutouts against Villanova, Michigan and Southwest Missouri State. In 817:22 played, Earnhardt recorded 12 saves.