It's déjà vu all over again for the Penn State women's rugby team.

One year after dropping a narrow 12-7 defeat to Air Force in the National Championship match, the team will once again need to go through Air Force Saturday if it hopes to win a title, its first since 2000.

This fact has stuck with the Lady Ruggers since last season, but like Penn State head coach Peter Steinberg said, revenge can only carry a team so far.

"I think there is some extra motivation," Steinberg said.

"But at the same time our goal is to win the national championship, not just beat Air Force."

For the players, however, the chance at a rematch is extra motivation.

"We're really excited," Lady Rugger Kim Magrini said. "Especially for our matchup against Air Force."

Unlike last season, when the Lady Ruggers were favorites over Air Force, the Ruggers will play the role of underdog. That's fine with the Ruggers, who are happy to be back in the Final Four after losing 13 seniors from last year's team.

The Ruggers will be making their ninth trip to the Final Four in the past 10 years, including consecutive defeats in the finals. They hope that the third time will be the charm.

"We're very excited and we have a good feeling about our chances," Lady Rugger Katie Gloyer said.

Coming off two impressive victories over Arkansas in the Sweet 16 and Ohio State in the Elite Eight, the Ruggers appear to be playing their best rugby of the season, a fact the team attributes to the better competition.

The better the competition, the better they play.

"This is a team that needs to be focused and excited to play well," Steinberg said.

"I think what shows is that in the games that counted we were ready."

Besides being focused, something that has plagued the team at times this season, the Ruggers will need to get consistent play from their defense, especially on the offensive side of the field.

"We need our backs to turn possession into scores," Steinberg said.

The winner of the Penn State-Air Force match will take on the winner of the Illinois-University of California-San Diego match on Saturday.

Given the way they played two weeks ago, the Ruggers are confident they can fly back from Stanford, Calif., on Sunday with smiles on their faces.

"I think we came out strong in the last two games," Gloyer said. "If we come out like that we can do as well if not better this weekend."

Which would be three times as sweet.