The season is at the midway point, but this is the game it's been waiting for.

The No. 12 Penn State men's soccer team (5-3, 1-0 Big Ten) hosts powerhouse No. 5 Indiana (5-1-2, 1-0 Big Ten) tonight at 7:30 at Jeffrey Field. The Nittany Lions host Towson (3-2-1, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association) Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Tonight's showdown against national runner-up Indiana figures to be another classic.

"Over the years we have had very competitive matches," Indiana men's soccer coach Jerry Yeagley said. "They are all up for grabs and have not been easy games."

Making the matchup special is the fact that the teams come in tied for first place in the conference, although the coaches are trying to downplay that.

"I don't know if this is more important than any other Big Ten game," Penn State men's soccer assistant coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "Beating them now means we are 2-0."

Being 2-0 means having the upper hand in the battle for a conference crown.

For the Lions, the main offensive source all season has been forward Chad Severs, who must continue his torrid goal scoring pace if the Lions are to have a chance. A two-headed monster of midfielder Ryan Mack and forward Pat Noonan, (who have both tallied 14 points), lead one of the more talented Hoosier teams in recent memory, which says a lot considering they have made the NCAA championship game each of the past three seasons, winning twice.

Noonan was this week's Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week, which should make for an entertaining matchup against Lions goalie Ryan Moate, who was last week's conference defensive player of the week.

Noonan registered six points in the Hoosiers' lopsided 6-1 victory over Michigan State last week, a game in which Yeagley finally saw his team come together.

"We haven't had a consistent performance," Yeagley said. "[Last week] was our closest to a complete game."

Most would think this is a good thing, but Yeagley is worried about a letdown.

"Sometimes after a good performance you tend to coast a little and that is what I'm worried about," he said.

If the Hoosiers have yet to reach their potential and have one blemish on their record, the Lions could be in for a long night.

"We expect them to be Indiana, we know what they bring to the table," LeBlanc said. "It's traditional for a Yeagley team to work their tails off, we just have to be smart and counter."

The Lions are going to have to be ready for everything the Hoosiers throw at them, but must also save some gas in their tank for Sunday.

The Lions will host a Tigers squad which comes in struggling, despite a respectable record. The Tigers have scored just two goals in their last four games.

When Sunday's contest is over the Lions could be riding a four-game winning streak, but more importantly could be in first place in the Big Ten.