Exactly a year ago, the Penn State women's soccer team was coming off of an up-and-down week that saw it lose to one California team and upset another. The squad finds itself in a nearly identical situation as it heads into this weekend's Virginia Nike Soccer Classic -- this time hoping for a sweep.

The No. 7 Nittany Lions (3-1-0) take on two West Coast powerhouses in No. 2 Santa Clara (2-0-2) and No. 22 Southern California (2-1-1) at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.

After losing to the Women of Troy 1-0 last season, however, the Lions came back against then-No. 2 UCLA and pulled off an impressive 1-0 upset in double overtime. Being just a year removed from that experience gives the team some added confidence against a top-ranked opponent.

"It definitely makes us psychologically stronger," Penn State assistant coach Melissa Ramsey said. "We know we can beat anyone in the country, no matter what their ranking is. We want to play each team like they're the best team and we're the best team."

Both the Broncos and the Lions are considered premier teams in the country, with both squads reaching last year's College Cup, though they did not face each other.

Each team was eliminated by eventual champion Portland, with the Lions losing in the semifinals and the Broncos going down in the championship game.

The game against the Broncos will be one of the few this season where the Lions won't be the strong favorite to win, but they don't view it as a disadvantage.

"It's always easier being the underdog," senior defender Leigh Hamilton said. "It's like you want it more. You're lower than they are and you want their ranking. We know that we can contend with anyone."

The Broncos are led by senior forward/midfielder Veronica Zepeda, a preseason candidate for the Hermann Trophy along with Penn State's Joanna Lohman, among others.

Though the match up with the undefeated Broncos on Sunday morning may be the weekend's marquee game.

Penn State is looking to exact some revenge against the Women of Troy following with happened in last season's game.

"[Southern Cal] is a very important game for us," Penn State women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins said. "They beat us last year, so we're looking to get retribution for that. They play a little different style than the East Coast teams we've been playing, so that creates a different sort of problem for us."

The Women of Troy return nine starters including senior midfielder Megan Abbamanto, whose score in the 85th minute of last year's game defeated the Lions.