The end is near.

The No. 12 Penn State women's soccer team is closing out its three-week road trip this weekend, a trip that saw it travel to the West Coast and then spend a weekend in the Boston area.

The Nittany Lions (3-1-1) head first to Evanston to open up conference play against Northwestern (2-2-1), at 5 p.m. today at Lakeside Field.

The Lions travel back east to Vir-ginia to take on James Madison (4-2-1) at 4 p.m., Sunday at the JMU Soccer Field.

Penn State women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins knows that neither team will feel sorry for the Lions, and the rigorous travel they've endured.

"This [travel] is an obstacle, and we need to fight through it," Wilkins said.

"It's starting to wear down on the bodies, after being on the road for three weeks. We're not going to change our approach at all, and no one is going to care how tired we are."

On the road trip thus far, Penn State has struggled putting the ball in the net.

It has only tallied five goals in four games. All-American Christie Welsh and junior All-Big Ten performer Heidi Drummond are the only two Lions to score a goal.

Welsh scored a pair of game-winners against No. 3 UCLA and No. 23 Harvard.

Drummond was named Big Ten Player of the Week after scoring three goals last weekend, including both scores in the 2-2 tie with Boston College.

She also added the game-tying goal against Harvard.

Wilkins will not overlook any team, including Northwestern, knowing that her squad has played inconsistent soccer for most of the season.

The Wildcats are historically one of the worst teams in the conference, managing just a 6-21-3 record against Big Ten opponents over the past three seasons.

"They are not a very strong team and a team that we are expected to beat," freshman forward Tiffany Weimer said.

"It's real important to set the tone early in the Big Ten, so that other teams can see the result, and know that we're somebody."

The Wildcats have been led by the talented forward duo of sophomore Ashleigh Garmon and freshman Tabitha Lowey.

Garmon has scored three goals and assisted on another thus far.

Lowey has scored two goals, including a game-winner.

James Madison has played an easy schedule so far this season, and Penn State will be the Dukes' first tough challenge.

The Dukes dropped a 3-0 decision to then-unranked West Virginia last weekend.

After the loss to the Mountaineers, they bounced back to beat Virginia Tech, 2-1, on a goal from senior Deanna Saracino 3:07 into the overtime period.

Wilkins understands that the Dukes will continue to play their hard-nosed style of soccer no matter who the opponent may be.

"They are very fast and athletic, and have solid athletes," she said.

"It's going to be hard getting behind them, because they play very physical soccer. "

The team will return to action next Friday, when they take on Indiana at 5 p.m. The game will be held at Jeffrey Field.