This couldn't have been what the No. 4 Penn State field hockey team expected.

In what turned out to be a roller coaster weekend, the Nittany Lions fell to unranked Lafayette on Saturday in overtime, 2-1, but bounced back to beat No. 10 Princeton 3-2 yesterday at the Class of 1952 Stadium in Princeton.

Penn State had never lost to Lafayette, until Saturday. The Lions may very well have been looking past the Leopards, who improved their season mark to 3-3 with the win.

"I didn't think we came out to play," Penn State field hockey coach Char Morett said. "We didn't bring the right intensity."

Heather Conroy scored the Lions' lone goal in the first half, as the team was shutout during the last 35 minutes. Morett said that Penn State had many opportunities to take control of the game in the first half, but the team was unable to capitalize. The Lions also lacked intensity in last week's overtime win against Temple.

"We need to respect every team we play," Morett said. "We're a big game on their schedule."

The Lions improved their record to 3-0 against ranked opponents, thanks to their win against Princeton. It was their third straight victory in what has become a fairly heated rivalry dating back to the Tigers' win over the Lions in the 2000 NCAA tournament.

Yesterday's game was the dogfight that the Lions expected. Penn State nearly played its third consecutive overtime game. However, Neilye Stoner's goal with 1:23 remaining in regulation clinched the victory for the Lions, who improved to 5-1 on the season. Penn State seemed to sense the urgency in the second half of yesterday's game more than Princeton. The Lions outshot Princeton 10-3 in the final 35 minutes and showed they could come from behind.

The Tigers held leads of 1-0 and 2-1.

Timarie Legel notched two goals and the game-winning assist for the Lions.

Like it had in the Lafayette game, Penn State failed to convert on several scoring opportunities against the Tigers. Forward Mary Schaefer and Conroy both missed penalty shots, but the Lions were still able to get the win. The win showed character on the part of the Lions. After the let-down against Lafayette, Penn State found itself down 1-0 early in the first half. However, the team didn't fold and showed that it is deserving of its No. 4 national ranking.

"They showed they have a lot of pride in this team and this program," Morett said.