If you were to look at the Penn State women's lacrosse team's results this season and analyze the pattern, you could probably predict with some accuracy that the team is due for a win.

The Nittany Lions (3-3) will jump on the rollercoaster that has been their 2003 season when they take on Temple (3-1) today at 3 p.m. Depending on the weather, the game will be played at either Bigler Field, Jeffrey Field or Holuba Hall.

Much like last season, when Penn State finished 8-9, it's been an up-and-down year with the Lions winning, losing, winning, losing, winning and then losing again. For at least today, Penn State will try to continue the pattern by adding another win.

"Ups and downs are disappointing and are to be expected with a young team," Penn State head coach Suzanne Isidor said. "We need to put it all together, and I'm confident that we can do that."

The Lions have indeed made the mistakes that young teams typically make. Against Princeton Saturday, Penn State turned the ball over more than twice as many times as the Tigers. Princeton also controlled the time of possession, limiting Penn State to only 17 shots.

Against Temple, the Lions will need step up the pressure on the Owls' attack. "We have to slow Temple down and keep them out of the eight-meter area," Isidor said. "We need to control the possession time, which is something we didn't do against Princeton."

It will be difficult to contain Temple as the team is loaded with players with scoring potential. Through their first four games, the Owls featured four players with double-digit point totals. Midfielders Tiffany Pulaski (10 goals, six assists) and Deanna Radcliffe (12 goals, three assists) lead the team in points with 16 and 15, respectively.

"Temple is a physical team with great shooters," Isidor said. "They come out always ready to play Penn State."

Last year, the Owls came out ready to play and upset the Lions 18-14. In the loss, Penn State allowed 33 shots and turned the ball over often, disrupting any chance of developing a strong fast break game. Shots allowed and turnovers are the same things that did the Lions in against Princeton.

Isidor said that rather than there being any glaring problems that the team needed to address to turn its season around, its chances of winning against Temple hinge on its ability to execute and follow through.

"It's just a matter of doing the little things and being mentally ready," Isidor said.

"There are easy things to work on and easy things to change. We just need to get back to basics."