After a disappointing tie with Loyola last weekend, the Penn State men's rugby team (3-1-1) is eager to prove itself against George Mason University this weekend at the Flower Garden Fields next to East Halls.

After last week's game, center Sean Umstead chided the team for its "lack of heart," and he expects them to step up for this weekend's game.

The Ruggers will be happy that influential forward Michael McGeachy returns after a lengthy layoff with an ankle injury.

Against Loyola, in the last five minutes of the game, the Ruggers had two penalties in which they could have opted to take field goals on both occasions and put some points on the board.

Both times, the Ruggers declined the kick and went for the try and on both occasions they failed.

Ruggers' captain Jason Fisher said that he felt the momentum was with Penn State and that was why they opted to go for the try instead of the automatic three points.

The first half of that game saw the Ruggers keeping the ball in Loyola's half but failing to take advantage of the scoring opportunities that was given to them.

On many occasions, the Ruggers spilled the ball at the tryline.

"I think that we get too impatient when we are in scoring positions," Penn State men's forwards coach Don Ferrell said.

He also added that the Ruggers would try to slow things down and concentrate on phase after phase in their next game.

Tackling has been something the team has worked on all season, yet against Loyola, the Ruggers missed tackles in the open field which led to Loyola scores. The Ruggers also blame the referee for the tie. But they know that if they want to be recognized as an elite team, they can't make excuses.

"No, you can't blame the referee for everything," Umstead said.

"If we leave the game to be decided by the referee, then we haven't done our job."

The Ruggers understand that this game is critical because their next game will be against intrastate rivals Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

"Obviously. Yeah, we have got to win this game against George Mason," Umstead said. "But IUP is always on our minds."

Rucking was also something the Ruggers struggled with.

They failed on many occasions to drive the Loyola forwards off the ball and give good clean balls to the backs.

"That was something I was mad at," McGeachy said. "After this week of practice, rucking should not be a problem."