Women's Soccer vs. Harvard, 5 p.m. Friday at Jeffrey Field.

Maybe it's the crowd. Maybe it's the familiarity of the stadium. Or maybe it's the comfort of knowing that your team hasn't lost a regular season home game in nearly four years.

Whatever the reason, the Penn State women's soccer team (1-1) will be looking forward to its home opener at 5 tonight against Harvard (0-0) at Jeffrey Field.

The last time the No. 13 Nittany Lions lost a non-tournament game on their home field, Bill Clinton was still in office. On Sept. 17, 1999 the Lions dropped a 1-0 game in overtime to No. 4 Florida, the defending national champion at the time. Since that game, the Lions have compiled a 30-0-1 regular season record at Jeffrey Field.

Penn State women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins attributed much of the team's success to the crowd.

"I think the crowd is there, I think our players feel more comfortable in that environment," Wilkins said. "I think they want to show off for their home crowd ... and in the past we've done quite well."

In the last eight years, over 45,000 people have been in the stands for Penn State women's soccer as the team has won over 90 percent of its games with four undefeated home slates.

Harvard will enter Happy Valley for the first game of its season having never beaten the Lions in three chances. This will be the first game between the two rivals in which the Crimson is not ranked in the NSCAA top 25 -- the college coaches' poll.

The Crimson coaching staff is aware of the Lions' remarkable home record.

"We're expecting a very challenging game," Harvard assistant women's soccer coach Gregory Rusk said. "Penn State is one of the top teams in the nation. They've been able to prepare themselves ... but this is our first game. We're expecting quite a battle."

Despite the perpetual rain that has fallen on State College this week, the Lions' practices haven't been badly affected. Wilkins said that the team managed to miss most of the bad weather and that her team has been able to prepare for the weekend.

"Harvard will be well organized," Wilkins said. "We're trying to just get better and better from the games that we've played. We're looking right now to just focus on ourselves and get situated for these games. Harvard will be an exciting game because [Crimson head coach] Tim Wheaton is a friend of mine and his teams are always well put together."

The Crimson will look toward its senior captains -- Katie Hodel and Caitlin Fisher -- to help upset the Lions. Their coaches look to them as one of the main keys to victory.

"[They] provide leadership not only through their words, but also through their actions," Rusk said.

The Lions will head right back on the road after the game to take on No. 24 Maryland at 5 p.m. Sunday.